Is it a bird, a plane, or a B-2 bomber? No, it's also a flying hotel with beds and candies, built to eat, sleep, and kill

The last place you'd expect to find creature comforts like bunks, snacks, and a microwave is inside a strategic stealth bomber. But that’s exactly what the B-2 Spirit offers—designed not only to defeat the world’s most advanced air defenses but also to keep its two-person crew functioning during missions lasting up to two full days.

Each B-2 carries sleeping arrangements, a microwave oven, a toilet, and a food rack stocked with items such as candy bars, cereal, sandwiches, milk, and energy drinks. These basic provisions allow pilots to remain operational during non-stop 30–40 hour flights from the continental United States to distant targets across the globe.

Originally built for a larger Cold War fleet

The U.S. initially planned to produce 132 B-2 bombers. After the Cold War ended and defense budgets were reduced, the final number was limited to 21. Each aircraft cost about $2.2 billion, including research and development.

Two aircraft have been lost. In 2008, a B-2 crashed while taking off from Andersen Air Force Base in Guam. Moisture in the sensors caused faulty data in the flight control system. Both pilots ejected safely, but the aircraft was destroyed. Another B-2 was later retired after sustaining significant damage in a separate incident.

Today, 19 B-2s remain in active service, all stationed at Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri.

Built for stealth and global reach

The B-2 features a distinctive flying wing design and uses radar-absorbent materials to evade detection by advanced radar systems. According to the U.S. Air Force’s official website, the B-2 Spirit’s technical and operational features include:

• Primary function: Multi-role heavy bomber
  
  
  
• Contractor: Northrop Grumman Corporation
  
  
  
• Power plant: Four General Electric F118-GE-100 engines
  
  
  
• Thrust: 17,300 pounds per engine
  
  
  
• Wingspan: 172 feet (52.12 meters)
  
  
  
• Length: 69 feet (20.9 meters)
  
  
  
• Height: 17 feet (5.1 meters)
  
  
  
• Empty weight: 160,000 pounds (72,575 kilograms)
  
  
  
• Maximum takeoff weight: 336,500 pounds (152,634 kilograms)
  
  
  
• Fuel capacity: 167,000 pounds (75,750 kilograms)
  
  
  
• Payload: 40,000 pounds (18,144 kilograms)
  
  
  
• Speed: High subsonic
  
  
  
• Range: Intercontinental
  
  
  
• Ceiling: 50,000 feet (15,240 meters)
  
  
  
• Armament: Conventional or nuclear weapons
  
  
  
• Crew: Two pilots
  
  
  
• Unit cost: Approximately $1.157 billion (fiscal 1998 constant dollars)
  
  
  
• Initial operating capability: April 1997
  
  
  
• Inventory: Active force – 20 (including one test aircraft)
  
  
  

B-21 Raider to take over strategic bombing role

The B-2’s successor, the B-21 Raider, is under development by Northrop Grumman. It will be a sixth-generation aircraft designed for high-end contested environments, equipped with advanced stealth, communications, and autonomy features.

According to U.S. Air Force officials quoted in reports, the force plans to acquire up to 200 B-21 bombers. These will replace both the B-2 and the older B-52 Stratofortress as the core of America's future strategic bomber fleet.

Combat history and long-range operations

The B-2 made its first flight in 1989 and became operational in 1999. Its combat debut came during the NATO-led Kosovo War. Since then, the bomber has participated in missions across multiple theatres.

Following the September 11 attacks, the B-2 carried out a record-setting 44-hour round-trip mission from Missouri to Afghanistan in 2001, still the longest B-2 mission on record.

Operation Midnight Hammer: Strike on Iran

In a recent operation named "Midnight Hammer", seven B-2 bombers flew non-stop from Missouri to Iran in a mission targeting nuclear sites. The mission lasted over 37 hours.

During the 18-hour approach, the bombers were refueled mid-air multiple times by KC-135 and KC-46 tankers. They operated under strict radio silence while coordinating with U.S. Central Command for timing and support.

Ahead of the B-2 strike, a U.S. Navy submarine launched over two dozen Tomahawk land-attack cruise missiles to disrupt Iran’s air defenses. U.S. fighter aircraft moved in first to clear potential threats.

At 6:40 p.m. EST (2:10 a.m. Iran time), the lead B-2 dropped two GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator bombs on the Fordow nuclear site. Over the next 25 minutes, 14 such bombs were used on three nuclear targets. This was the first combat use of the GBU-57, which only the B-2 can carry.

B-2 Bomber Legacy and transition

The B-2 remains a symbol of strategic precision and stealth. Its role has evolved from a Cold War deterrent to a flexible global strike platform.

With the B-21 Raider poised to take its place, the B-2’s impact will continue to shape U.S. airpower strategy—through its operational history, design innovation, and its unique ability to combine firepower with human endurance over long-range missions.