Why is the b2 bomber so expensive

The bomber, expected to fly in , is smaller than the B-2 bomber it replaces. The bomber will not replace the s-era BH Stratofortress any time soon, which the service plans to fly through the s. At the time of its development the B-2 Spirit was one of the most expensive defense programs ever. The Air Force originally planned to build bombers, but the fall of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War, coupled with runaway development and unit costs, caused the Pentagon to trim the number to just 21 B-2s.

But that's because the B-2 was a difficult aircraft to design. The heavy strategic bomber combined a tailless flying wing design, a first for an operational combat aircraft, with an all-aspect stealth design. This necessitated an extensive redesign of the aircraft to strengthen the airframe against the stresses of low altitude flight, adding to the cost and delaying the program almost two years. The plane is scheduled to fly for the first time in December Source: The Los Angeles Times.

It's the only known stealth bomber in the world, capable of dropping both conventional and nuclear payloads. First flown on July 17, , the B-2 was originally intended to carry nuclear bombs deep into Soviet territory by evading detection.

Its shape — paired with the plane's stealth systems — would enable it to be undetected by Soviet radars. The B-2's long range meant it could fly deep into enemy territory and return home. With the collapse of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War, the B-2 has been used to drop non-nuclear bombs. Its first overseas deployment, to Guam, was in , and it made its combat debut during the Kosovo War in , and has since flown sorties in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Libya.

More recently, the B-2 has been placed in bases in the Pacific as part of a strategy to deal with potential threats from North Korea, and to deter China. Source: US Air Force. Editor's note : Ben Brimelow , an editorial intern with Business Insider, wrote an earlier version of this post. For you. World globe An icon of the world globe, indicating different international options.

Get the Insider App. Click here to learn more. A leading-edge research firm focused on digital transformation. Good Subscriber Account active since Shortcuts. Account icon An icon in the shape of a person's head and shoulders. It often indicates a user profile. Log out. US Markets Loading H M S In the news. Ellen Ioanes. June 17 marks the year anniversary of the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber's first flight.

The world's only known stealth bomber, it is capable of dropping both conventional and nuclear payloads.