The B-2 Spirit stealth bomber has been one of the longest and most complicated missions in recent military aviation history.
US Air ForceThe aircraft departed from Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri, and flew 37 hours in a row before reaching its target, the uranium enrichment facility in Fordou, Iran. Return to and from the air fleet required multiple refueling, and with the assistance of fighter jets and escorts, the aircraft was carried out with extremely high accuracy, minimizing communication.
Designed to allow entry while avoiding enemy air defense nets, the B-2 Spirit is one of the most advanced aircraft ever manufactured. Stealth technology reduces the radar reflection area like small animals like sparrows, and is hardly detected by conventional radar systems. This ability is enhanced by flying wing structure, tailless design, and curved surfaces that divert radio waves.
To accommodate long-term missions, the B-2 is equipped with comfort equipment, which is rare for a fighter jet. Crews can use toilets, microwaves and refrigerators that can store food. There is also a space in the cockpit where one occupant can rest, and the other person will take over the operation. This is possible due to the highly automated aircraft and the design that allows it to operate with just two passengers.
One B-2 can carry up to 80 tons of weapons and can operate such as a powerful “bunkerbuster” GBU-57 bomb that penetrates tens of meters of concrete and explodes.
With only 19 aircraft in operation worldwide and a price per aircraft of over $2 billion, the B-2 is the core of the US Air Force’s strategic aviation forces and is planned to continue operation until at least 2058.
The mission to Iran, carried out on six bombers, was once again a testament to how sophisticated and deadly attacking the B-2 is.
Source: New York Post / Quatro Rodas | Photo: X @usairforce | This content was confirmed by the editorial department with support from AI
Dubbed “Operation Midnight Hammer,” @CentCom deployed multiple combined assets to inflict significant damage on three Iranian nuclear facilities.
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— U.S. Air Force (@usairforce) June 22, 2025
