#b 2a

B-2A Spirit “We Own The Night”

B-2 Bomber

B-2A before the Storm ⛈️

USAF Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit (h. couch)

The Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit stealth bomber is a key component of America's long-range strike arsenal, and one of the most survivable aircraft in the world. Stealth characteristics allow it to penetrate the most sophisticated enemy defenses.

Did you know that the Pentagon originally wanted 130+ B-2 bombers? Economies of scale would have made the B-2 a far cheaper aircraft. However, budget cuts pushed production numbers down, increasing the $500 million per unit price to surge to $929 million. With development factored in the 21 B-2s cost taxpayers $2.1 billion each - making it the most expensive aircraft ever built! Let's see what becomes of the new B-21 program, which is slated to produce a bomber at a unit price of <$550 million.

It's been nearly 37 years since its first flight, and yet it still looks like it came from 200 years in the future...😍

#Northrop B-2A #Spirit taking off from #Whiteman AFB, Missouri in October of last year (#USAF photo by Staff Sgt. Joshua Hastings)

Operation Epic Fury

Peter Chilelli by Peter Chilelli