What is it?
The Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit is a highly advanced multi-role heavy bomber that costs $2 billion per unit. It can penetrate virtually any air defense system, going intercontinental distances and being capable of dropping both conventional and nuclear payloads.
Engine and aerodynamics
The plane has a crew of 2 pilots and receives power and thrust through four General Electric F118-GE-100 engines, with each engine giving 17,300 pounds of thrust. The aircraft has a wingspan of 172 feet, a length of 62 feet, and a height of 17 feet. The aircraft uses a “flying wing” design which means that there is no distinction between the wings and the main body of the aircraft. The weight is 160,000 pounds, the fuel capacity is 167,000 pounds, and the maximum takeoff weight is 336,500 pounds, the payload is a maximum of 40,000 pounds. It can fly up to 50,000 feet high, reaching high subsonic speeds.
Stealth mechanics
The first, most obvious feature is the lack of a tail or any other outlying object due to avoiding radar detection. The second main feature is the paint of the aircraft itself, which is specially designed to absorb radar waves, rather than just deflecting them. The metal body of the plane is a combination of titanium, graphite epoxy, fiberglass polyamide, and fiberglass epoxy (particularly on the leading edge of the wing). Beneath the surface is a strong network of steel ribs that allow the wings to flex and bend as needed. Another feature is the engines, which are buried deep in the body of the aircraft and are designed to give off the minimum amount of heat possible, to avoid being struck by heat-seeking missiles. The plane does not use afterburners due to the large heat signatures they leave. They have complex split-drag rudders and flaps that work to steer the plane and perform maneuvers that require roll and pitch.
Sources:
tps://www.northropgrumman.com/what-we-do/air/b-2-stealth-bomber
https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/104482/b-2-spirit/
https://www.britannica.com/technology/B-2
https://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/b2/
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