The U.S. Air Force’s B-2 Bomber Nightmare Has Arrived

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Key Points: The U.S. Air Force operates only 19 B-2 Spirit stealth bombers due to their high cost—$2.1 billion per jet. Initially, the Air Force envisioned a fleet of up to 139, but post-Cold War budget cuts reduced the order to 21.

-Two have since been lost to accidents. Despite its limited numbers, the B-2 is a strategic asset capable of delivering 80 JDAMs or nuclear weapons globally, making it a critical component of the U.S. nuclear triad.

-While aging and costly to maintain, the B-2 remains relevant, though it will eventually give way to the more advanced B-21 Raider by the 2030s.

Why Are There Only 19 B-2 Spirit Stealth Bombers In Service?

I remember the first time I saw a B-2 Spirit bomber at an air show at Kirtland Air Force Base in New Mexico.

 It was a rare sighting since the Air Force prefers to keep prying eyes from seeing such a valuable asset that can bring doom to the enemy on other continents.

 I was amazed at the size and presence of the menacing bomber. I had associated it more with the smaller F-117 Nighthawk, but the B-2 is immense.

 One can imagine the ordnance it could deliver with such an enormous payload.

 But unfortunately for the U.S. military, there are only 19 B-2s in service.

The stealthy B-2s fly out of Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri. They have lately been busy attacking the Iranian-backed Houthi militants in Yemen. The warplanes are hitting underground weapons depots to rob the Houthis of their ammunition. This shows the B-2’s geographic reach and how it is still relevant in 2024. 

Let us dive into the Air Force’s never-ending nightmare when it comes to the B-2 bomber: the numbers problem. 

The High Cost Gives Pentagon Number Crunchers Fits

The biggest problem with the B-2 and why its numbers have been limited is the cost. 

Each bomber set the Air Force back $2.1 billion a piece. This is an eye-watering price that the U.S. government could just not afford to pay beyond the 19 in existence.

But Take A Closer Look at This Bomb Truck

However, one could argue that the investment has been worth it. 

B-2s can carry 40,000 pounds of munitions from two internal weapons bays. Originally, 16 JDAMs (Joint Direct Attack Munitions) could be dropped, and these are highly accurate “smart bombs” that can punish the enemy into submission. 

Then, the Air Force figured out a way to improve the rack design on the bomb bays, and now up to 80 JDAMs can be carried.

Huge Leg of the Nuclear Triad

Even better, the B-2 is a strategic asset that can carry nuclear weapons. 

This is the bombers’ most important job. The airplane, with aerial re-fueling, can deliver nuclear munitions anywhere in the world. It is a significant part of the U.S. military’s nuclear triad and will be an essential cog in defense strategies for years.

Some Wanted Over 100 Stealth Bombers

For these reasons, the Department of Defense hoped to bring dozens more B-2s into service. 

The Air Force originally wanted 75. Other strategists and defense acquisition pros aimed for 139 B-2s. 

However, the price tag went up because of high research and development costs due to the necessity for expensive stealth coatings and other features.

Then, the Cold War Ended 

The “peace dividend” after the Cold War, when defense budgets were cut greatly and the Air Force was hit with a reduction in force requirements, placed the B-2 on the chopping block. 

There was no longer a Soviet threat, and a large number of nuclear delivery systems wasn’t needed. There were simply fewer targets to hit. 

Secretary of Defense Dick Cheney, serving under President George HW Bush, decided that the strategic bomber wasn’t needed as badly and chose to fly only 21 B-2s. 

One B-2 went down in a crash in 2008. 

Another accident in 2022 damaged a B-2 beyond repair. Nineteen stealth bombers survived.

The B-2 Has Much Upside

The peace dividend decision by Cheney and others at the Pentagon was a mistake. 

The B-2s enjoyed an excellent combat record during the first Gulf War and the invasion of Iraq in 2003. Without the shock and awe campaign from the Spirit bombers, Operation Desert Storm and the deposing of Saddam Hussein would not have been as successful. 

During the Global War on Terror, the B-2 was a workhorse and allowed for tons of munitions to be dropped on militants.

It is still being used in the Middle East and is needed for the rise of great powers such as Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran.

Is the Stealth Bomber Out of Date?

Not everyone agrees with this assessment. Some think the B-2 has seen better days and is not as stealthy as it once was. 

It could be shot down by more advanced radar systems and air defenders such as S-400 and S-500 surface-to-air missile batteries. That is why the Air Force is going with the new B-21 Raider.

Also, the B-2 is difficult and costly to maintain. Keeping it in the air requires a highly-trained crew and around the clock vigilance.

But the B-2 is still needed, and it will be a valuable asset until the 2030s, when the B-21 will take its place. The Spirit is an important part of the nuclear triad and is still a beast when it comes to delivering weapons. 

It can make it to many hot spots around the world and punish the enemy. It’s too bad there are only 19 in service, but hopefully, there will be at least 100 B-21s someday, and the B-2 can then retire with distinction.

About the Author: Dr. Brent M. Eastwood 

Brent M. Eastwood, PhD, is the author of Don’t Turn Your Back On the World: a Conservative Foreign Policy and Humans, Machines, and Data: Future Trends in Warfare, plus two other books. Brent was the founder and CEO of a tech firm that predicted world events using artificial intelligence. He served as a legislative fellow for U.S. Senator Tim Scott and advised the senator on defense and foreign policy issues. He has taught at American University, George Washington University, and George Mason University. Brent is a former U.S. Army Infantry officer. He can be followed on X @BMEastwood.