b-2 spirit

B-2

The Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit is an American heavy penetration strategic stealth bomber. It uses a flying wing design (no fuselage and tail which are typical in most aircraft) and radar-absorbent materials to largely decrease its radar cross-section. Due to the inherent stability of the flying wing design, it flies by using Fly-By-Wire technology.

It is the most expensive aircraft at $2.1 billion per aircraft in 1997. Hence, with the winding-down of the Cold War, only 21 are built. One crashed in 2008, though the pilots ejected safely.

The aircraft is designed by Northrop Corporation (later Northrop Grumman) which has previously designed the XB-35 and the YB-49. The two preceding aircraft are flying wing bombers that did not enter service, but nevertheless became the basis of the B-2's design.

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