[Music] welcome back the b2 spirit is a low observable strategic
long-range heavy bomber capable of penetrating sophisticated and dense air defense shields
it is capable of all altitude attack missions up to fifty thousand feet
with a range of more than six thousand nanometers unrefueled and over ten thousand nanometers
with one refueling giving it the ability to fly to any point in the world within hours
its distinctive profile comes from the unique flying wing construction the leading edges of
the wings are angled at 33 degrees and the trailing edge has a w shape [Music]
a new transportable hanger system was developed which allows the b2 to be deployed to forward
locations overseas the hangars are 126 feet long 250 feet wide and 55 feet high the first of these
hangers have been erected on diego garcia in the indian ocean prior to this development
b2s had to return to whiteman afb after missions for maintenance of the aircraft's stealth features
b 2 spirit upgrade program northrop grumman the b2s prime contractor
leads an industry team that is working on modernizing the b-2 bomber
this is done to ensure that craft remains fully mission capable against evolving worldwide threats
a range of upgrade programs are working on improving the b2s lethality its ability to
receive updated target information during a mission and its ability to collect process
and disseminate battlefield information with joint force commanders or other local first responders
worldwide northrop grumman was awarded a contract to develop an ehf satellite communications
capability and computer architecture upgrade for the b-2 bomber the upgrade includes a lockheed
martin integrated processing unit ipu flight testing with the new systems was completed
u.s air force and northrop grumman corporation completed the system design review of the new
software and computing architecture the new architecture allows the b2s new integrated
processing unit ipu to communicate with the aircraft's processing applications
this new architecture provides a high-speed data handling environment required to implement
future b2 capabilities such as an ehf satellite communication system and also provides b2 the
ability to destroy moving targets weapons the aircraft carries all its weapons internally and
is fitted with two separate weapons bays in the center of the aircraft the b-2 stealth bomber
has the capacity to carry up to forty thousand pounds of weapons including conventional and
nuclear weapons precision guided munitions gravity bombs and a range of maritime weapons
radar the raytheon and slash a pq 181 covert strike radar operating at the j
band ku band is a multi-purpose radar with terrain following in terrain avoidance modes testing at
edwards air force base has demonstrated reliable terrain following at altitudes down to 200 feet
the b-2 radar modernization program replaces the aircraft's original radar
system with one that incorporates technology improvements that have occurred since the b-2
was originally designed in the early 1980s
b-2 engine the aircraft is powered by four general electric f-118 ge 100 turbofan engines internally
mounted in the body of the wings the engines have an exhaust temperature control system to
minimize thermal signature the engines rated at 77 knots provide a high subsonic speed
and a maximum gross takeoff weight of 336 500 pounds in-flight refueling gear
is installed in the top center line of the aircraft behind the cockpit [Music]