Planes and Flight

The B-2 is a multi-role stealth aircraft, capable of dropping both conventional and nuclear weapons. It is the most expensive airplane ever built with an estimated cost of between 1.157 and 2.2 billion dollars, although this includes the high cost of development of the aircraft; the production cost is significantly lower. The plane was, at first, highly classified, and started out as a black project. The B-2 participated in missions in the Kosovo war, as well as the current wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Later missions to Iraq were flown from a base in the United States; the B-2 is highly automated and one pilot can use a flush toilet or prepare a hot meal while the other monitors the plane. Maintenance of the B-2 is very difficult and resource intensive due to the low-observable materials.

General characteristics

* Crew: 2
* Length: 69 ft (20.9 m)
* Wingspan: 172 ft (52.12 m)
* Height: 17 ft (5.1 m)
* Wing area: 5,000 ft² (460 m²)
* Empty weight: 158,000 lb (71,700 kg)
* Loaded weight: 336,500 lb (152,600 kg)
* Max takeoff weight: 376,000 lb (171,000 kg)
* Powerplant: 4× General Electric F118-GE-100 turbofans,
17,300 lbf (77 kN) each

Performance

* Maximum speed: 410 knots (475 mph, 764 km/h)
* Range: 6,500 mi (5,600 nm, 10,400 km)
* Service ceiling: 50,000 ft (15,000 m)
* Wing loading: 67.3 lb/ft² (329 kg/m²)
* Thrust/weight: 0.205

Armament

* 40,000 lb (18,000 kg) of Bomb Rack Assembly mounted 500 lb class bombs (Mk82) (total carriage quantity: 80)
* 27,000 lb (12,000 kg) of BRA mounted 750 lb CBU class bombs (total carriage quantity: 36)
* 16 Rotary Launcher Assembly (RLA) mounted 2000 lb class weapons (Mk84, JDAM-84, JDAM-102)
* 16 RLA mounted B61 or B83 nuclear weapons

Later avionics and equipment improvements allow B-2A to carry JSOW and GBU-28s as well. The Spirit is also designated as a delivery aircraft for the AGM-158 JASSM when the missile enters service.