When the
Northrop B-2 Spirit was rolled out of its hangar and first shown to the world on
November 22, 1988 expressions such as “futuristic” and “otherworldly” were used
to describe it. These were coincidentally the same terms used to describe Northrop’s
revolutionary YB-49 flying wing bomber of 1947.
The B-2
Spirit “stealth” aircraft is a strategic long range heavy bomber whose all
altitude, low observable stealth technology gives it the capability to
penetrate the world’s most sophisticated air defences. Conceived during the
Cold War, the B-2 was designed to slip though enemy radar defences without
being detected and then drop up to 16 B83 nuclear bombs on key targets. Its first
flight was July 17, 1989.
The B-2’s
low visibility is derived from a combination of reduced infrared, acoustic,
electromagnetic, visual and radar signatures. These signatures make it
difficult for even the most sophisticated
