There are a few different places where b-2 bombers are based. Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri is one of the locations where they operate. Another military base is Diego Garcia, which is part of Australia and is a militarised island in British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT).
The US has used the B-2 stealth bomber since 1999 to attack targets around the world, including Afghanistan, Kosovo and Iraq. The aircraft can fly at altitudes of up to 10,400 feet, which allows it to evade radars and stay undetected.
These planes are capable of flying long distances and can carry lots of fuel, so they can be flown from all around the globe. They were used recently to bomb Islamic State training camps, Libya. The two b-2s used to carry out the mission were refueled several time in the air, and they traveled about 12,000 mile while they were there.
Tank Bases
The USAF is quite adept at refueling these aircraft in the air. The Air Force has a network of KC-135 and KC-10 tankers that can be deployed to help the B-2 get fuel on board.
B2 Stealth Bomber
The B-2 is the most expensive airplane in the Air Force's inventory, and fewer than 20 of them are currently in service. Its price tag is approximately $1 billion per plane, and only one B-2 was ever lost. The Air Force has worked to reduce the operating costs of these bombers.
In a recent story for the New York Times, we asked some of the hundreds of people who work with these bombers where they think their future will take them. Here are some of the responses:
If there is a nuclear crisis in the future, they could be sent to North Korea and Iran. They would be able to fly to those nations, drop their nuclear payloads and then come back home for a change of crews.
The B-2 could also serve to destroy Russian missile factories or other rogue nations that are working to develop nuclear weapons. GPS-guided munitions are used to disable enemy air defenses. This will aid in reducing their ability to destroy American jets.
Russian Bomber
The B-2 can fly very high altitudes. It is also capable of evading radars, making it difficult for any other type of aircraft to detect its movements or locate its target. It can also transport very large weapons, including ballistic missiles.
Some of the B-2's missions have been quite successful, and have led to a number of interesting stories from the air. They are used by the USAF as a means to display its latest weapons capabilities.
These aircraft are a critical tool in our arsenal. They enable us to reach targets that traditional warplanes would not be able to.