US to double B-2 Stealth Bomber fleet with 28 new aircraft after Iran strikes
{loadposition bannertop}
{loadposition sidebarpub}
On October 13, 2025, during a speech at the Israeli Knesset, President Donald Trump announced plans to add 28 updated B-2 Spirit stealth bombers, citing their performance in recent operations against Iran.
On October 13, 2025, President Donald Trump told Israeli lawmakers that the United States plans to double its B-2 Spirit stealth bomber fleet by adding 28 new aircraft. He said the decision followed the long-range operation against Iranian nuclear sites in June, which he described as proof of the bomber’s endurance and reach. The Pentagon has not verified the existence of a new production program, and analysts believe the number may represent life-extension or digital upgrade work already underway.Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
Originally planned for a fleet of 132 aircraft, post–Cold War budget reductions led to cancellation after only 21 airframes were completed, solidifying the B-2 Spirit position as a specialized asset focused on nuclear deterrence and precision global strike. (Picture source: Northrop Grumman)
President Donald Trump told Israeli lawmakers at the Knesset that the United States has ordered 28 additional B-2 stealth bombers, describing the aircraft as an updated version and characterizing the procurement as a whole pile. He stated that the announcement followed the June operation against Iran, which he said demonstrated what the aircraft could achieve during very long missions. According to his remarks, the bombers in that operation flew for around 37 hours with multiple aerial refuelings, illustrating endurance and logistical coordination. The Pentagon has not confirmed the existence of a new production contract, and current defense acquisition records list only modernization and sustainment programs.
Analysts have noted that references to new aircraft may refer to structural refurbishments, digital upgrades, or component replacements under long-term service life extension initiatives. The comment raised questions about whether the number referred to new construction, replacement of airframes nearing end-of-life, or the continuation of existing modernization plans. The context of the announcement indicates that the statement may align with ongoing efforts to keep the fleet operational until the B-21 Raider achieves full operational capability later in the decade.
The 2025 June strikes, known as Operation Midnight Hammer, involved seven B-2s from the 509th Bomb Wing flying from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri to conduct attacks on Iranian nuclear sites at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. Six of the bombers dropped twelve GBU-57A/B Massive Ordnance Penetrators on Fordow while the seventh released two additional MOPs on Natanz, targeting underground enrichment infrastructure. A U.S. Navy submarine simultaneously launched thirty Tomahawk cruise missiles in coordination to complete the multi-phase strike sequence. Escorts from F-22 and F-35 fighter aircraft supported the bombers’ penetration routes and exit corridors, minimizing exposure to Iranian air defenses and ensuring communication relay. The total mission lasted about 37 hours and involved multiple refuelings from aerial tankers positioned along the flight route between the continental United States and the Middle East. Post-strike assessments cited severe damage to fortified structures at Fordow and Natanz, though the full extent of the damage and its effect on Iran’s nuclear timeline remain debated to date.
The B-2 Spirit program traces its origins to the late 1970s when the U.S. Air Force initiated the Advanced Technology Bomber (ATB) program to counter increasingly sophisticated Soviet air defenses. Northrop, later Northrop Grumman after its 1994 merger with Grumman, was awarded the development contract in 1981 to produce a bomber that combined radar-evading stealth technology with long-range strategic capability. The design evolved from earlier experimental flying wing concepts pioneered by Jack Northrop in the 1940s and was shaped through extensive computational and wind tunnel testing under high secrecy. The first prototype, designated AV-1, made its maiden flight on July 17, 1989, from Palmdale, California, to Edwards Air Force Base, beginning a series of flight tests that confirmed the aircraft’s handling, stealth, and systems integration. The B-2 achieved initial operational capability in 1997 with the 509th Bomb Wing at Whiteman Air Force Base, replacing portions of the B-52 and B-1B strategic missions.
The B-2’s development cost exceeded $40 billion, driven by radar cross-section research, avionics miniaturization, and composite material production, as it was specifically created as a long-range flying wing strategic bomber designed to penetrate heavily defended airspace while carrying both conventional and nuclear payloads. The Block 30 configuration employs a crew of two and uses four F118-GE-100 turbofan engines producing approximately 77 kilonewtons each, integrated within the wing structure to minimize radar and infrared signatures. The aircraft has a wingspan of 52.4 meters and a fuselage height of 5.1 meters, with a maximum takeoff weight of about 170,600 kilograms. Its unrefueled range is estimated at 11,000 kilometers, extendable through in-flight refueling, while its service ceiling reaches around 15,200 meters. Maximum speed is roughly 1,010 kilometers per hour at altitude, prioritizing endurance and efficiency over supersonic capability.
The B-2’s low observable design is achieved through composite materials, planform alignment, and specialized coatings that absorb and scatter radar waves. The internal payload capacity of the B-2 is officially rated at 18,000 kilograms distributed across two weapons bays, although some records indicate that combat missions have carried up to 27,000 kilograms. Each bay can accommodate rotary launchers or modular racks, depending on mission requirements. The aircraft can carry up to 80 GBU-38 500-pound Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAMs), or combinations of heavier GBU-31 2,000-pound variants when fewer but larger effects are required. It is certified to carry two 13,600-kilogram GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrators, one per bay, which were employed during Operation Midnight Hammer against deeply buried Iranian facilities. The B-2 also integrates the AGM-158 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM) family for long-range precision strikes when direct penetration is not desirable.
Unit procurement costs were approximately $929 million per B-2 in 1997 dollars, while total program cost averaged $2.13 billion per aircraft after including research, development, and maintenance infrastructure. (Picture source: Northrop Grumman)
Nuclear missions remain a component of its operational capability, with carriage options for legacy B61 and B83 gravity bombs and planned integration of the future Long-Range Standoff (LRSO) nuclear cruise missile. The avionics suite, for its part, integrates navigation, radar, electronic support, and threat management systems designed for precision and survivability. The AN/APQ-181 radar originally used mechanically scanned arrays but has been refitted with an active electronically scanned array (AESA) configuration to improve reliability, resolution, and resistance to jamming while preserving low-probability-of-intercept operation. The aircraft’s Defensive Management System (DMS) identifies and locates threat emitters, providing data to adjust routes automatically and minimize radar exposure during ingress and egress. The DMS-M modernization program has focused on improving spectral awareness, threat processing, and automation after earlier software issues delayed full fielding.
Communications systems now include Link 16 and beyond-line-of-sight connectivity to coordinate with joint and allied forces during complex missions. The cockpit and mission computers have received processor upgrades, improved displays, and enhanced data storage capacity to support integration with modern munitions and networked warfare systems. Together, these upgrades maintain the aircraft’s effectiveness against advanced integrated air defense networks and enable continued use of precision-guided munitions under contested conditions. Modernization efforts have also targeted structural, sustainment, and software components to extend the B-2’s service life and improve operational readiness. Maintenance improvements have focused on radar-absorbent material coatings, hangar environmental control, and inspection processes to reduce turnaround times. The Block 30 fleet has been progressively upgraded with the Radar Modernization Program, Defensive Management System modifications, and improved mission data file architecture.
Long-term plans align with keeping the aircraft operational until at least 2032, when the B-21 Raider is expected to assume most long-range strike responsibilities. Efforts continue to manage obsolescence across avionics, communications, and flight control systems, ensuring compatibility with evolving network-centric operations. Each airframe undergoes periodic depot-level maintenance and low-observable restoration at Whiteman Air Force Base to maintain mission capability. The Air Force Global Strike Command has emphasized that modernization will sustain nuclear and conventional capabilities while bridging the transition to next-generation systems, maintaining deterrence credibility through the end of the aircraft’s service life. Notably, in addition to its traditional strategic role, the B-2 has recently demonstrated capability in maritime strike applications.
In testing at the Eglin Gulf Test Range, the Air Force used a B-2 to release a QUICKSINK-modified 500-pound bomb, demonstrating its ability to neutralize moving surface vessels using JDAM-based guidance and a specialized sensor package. Later exercises in the Norwegian Sea paired a B-2 with Royal Norwegian Air Force F-35A aircraft to test precision anti-ship strikes on a maneuvering naval target, validating cooperative targeting in maritime environments. The QUICKSINK program aims to provide a cost-effective alternative to anti-ship cruise missiles, leveraging existing precision weapons for surface warfare missions. These developments expand the bomber’s mission set by allowing it to perform flexible strike operations in both land and sea domains. Integrating maritime strike capability aligns with U.S. Air Force goals for distributed operations and supports cooperation with NATO allies in high-threat littoral regions. The combination of stealth penetration and networked targeting enhances operational flexibility against a broader range of strategic and tactical objectives.
The B-2 program’s high procurement and operating costs have shaped fleet size and sustainment decisions throughout its history. Unit procurement costs were approximately $929 million per aircraft in 1997 dollars, while total program cost averaged $2.13 billion per aircraft after including research, development, and maintenance infrastructure. These figures reflect the effects of a limited production run and complex low observable maintenance requirements. The aircraft’s coatings and materials require climate-controlled hangars, extensive labor, and long maintenance cycles that reduce sortie generation rates compared to conventional bombers. Program managers have sought to improve maintainability through advanced materials, modular components, and automated inspection technologies. These improvements aim to balance operational demands with sustainment costs as the platform approaches the end of its production lifespan. Air Force planning currently maintains 20 operational B-2s, all undergoing incremental upgrades to ensure readiness for both nuclear deterrence and conventional global strike missions until the B-21 achieves full deployment through the 2030s.
Written by Jérôme Brahy
Jérôme Brahy is a defense analyst and documentalist at Army Recognition. He specializes in naval modernization, aviation, drones, armored vehicles, and artillery, with a focus on strategic developments in the United States, China, Ukraine, Russia, Türkiye, and Belgium. His analyses go beyond the facts, providing context, identifying key actors, and explaining why defense news matters on a global scale.
{loadposition bannertop}
{loadposition sidebarpub}
On October 13, 2025, during a speech at the Israeli Knesset, President Donald Trump announced plans to add 28 updated B-2 Spirit stealth bombers, citing their performance in recent operations against Iran.
On October 13, 2025, President Donald Trump told Israeli lawmakers that the United States plans to double its B-2 Spirit stealth bomber fleet by adding 28 new aircraft. He said the decision followed the long-range operation against Iranian nuclear sites in June, which he described as proof of the bomber’s endurance and reach. The Pentagon has not verified the existence of a new production program, and analysts believe the number may represent life-extension or digital upgrade work already underway.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
Originally planned for a fleet of 132 aircraft, post–Cold War budget reductions led to cancellation after only 21 airframes were completed, solidifying the B-2 Spirit position as a specialized asset focused on nuclear deterrence and precision global strike. (Picture source: Northrop Grumman)
President Donald Trump told Israeli lawmakers at the Knesset that the United States has ordered 28 additional B-2 stealth bombers, describing the aircraft as an updated version and characterizing the procurement as a whole pile. He stated that the announcement followed the June operation against Iran, which he said demonstrated what the aircraft could achieve during very long missions. According to his remarks, the bombers in that operation flew for around 37 hours with multiple aerial refuelings, illustrating endurance and logistical coordination. The Pentagon has not confirmed the existence of a new production contract, and current defense acquisition records list only modernization and sustainment programs.
Analysts have noted that references to new aircraft may refer to structural refurbishments, digital upgrades, or component replacements under long-term service life extension initiatives. The comment raised questions about whether the number referred to new construction, replacement of airframes nearing end-of-life, or the continuation of existing modernization plans. The context of the announcement indicates that the statement may align with ongoing efforts to keep the fleet operational until the B-21 Raider achieves full operational capability later in the decade.
The 2025 June strikes, known as Operation Midnight Hammer, involved seven B-2s from the 509th Bomb Wing flying from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri to conduct attacks on Iranian nuclear sites at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. Six of the bombers dropped twelve GBU-57A/B Massive Ordnance Penetrators on Fordow while the seventh released two additional MOPs on Natanz, targeting underground enrichment infrastructure. A U.S. Navy submarine simultaneously launched thirty Tomahawk cruise missiles in coordination to complete the multi-phase strike sequence. Escorts from F-22 and F-35 fighter aircraft supported the bombers’ penetration routes and exit corridors, minimizing exposure to Iranian air defenses and ensuring communication relay. The total mission lasted about 37 hours and involved multiple refuelings from aerial tankers positioned along the flight route between the continental United States and the Middle East. Post-strike assessments cited severe damage to fortified structures at Fordow and Natanz, though the full extent of the damage and its effect on Iran’s nuclear timeline remain debated to date.
The B-2 Spirit program traces its origins to the late 1970s when the U.S. Air Force initiated the Advanced Technology Bomber (ATB) program to counter increasingly sophisticated Soviet air defenses. Northrop, later Northrop Grumman after its 1994 merger with Grumman, was awarded the development contract in 1981 to produce a bomber that combined radar-evading stealth technology with long-range strategic capability. The design evolved from earlier experimental flying wing concepts pioneered by Jack Northrop in the 1940s and was shaped through extensive computational and wind tunnel testing under high secrecy. The first prototype, designated AV-1, made its maiden flight on July 17, 1989, from Palmdale, California, to Edwards Air Force Base, beginning a series of flight tests that confirmed the aircraft’s handling, stealth, and systems integration. The B-2 achieved initial operational capability in 1997 with the 509th Bomb Wing at Whiteman Air Force Base, replacing portions of the B-52 and B-1B strategic missions.
The B-2’s development cost exceeded $40 billion, driven by radar cross-section research, avionics miniaturization, and composite material production, as it was specifically created as a long-range flying wing strategic bomber designed to penetrate heavily defended airspace while carrying both conventional and nuclear payloads. The Block 30 configuration employs a crew of two and uses four F118-GE-100 turbofan engines producing approximately 77 kilonewtons each, integrated within the wing structure to minimize radar and infrared signatures. The aircraft has a wingspan of 52.4 meters and a fuselage height of 5.1 meters, with a maximum takeoff weight of about 170,600 kilograms. Its unrefueled range is estimated at 11,000 kilometers, extendable through in-flight refueling, while its service ceiling reaches around 15,200 meters. Maximum speed is roughly 1,010 kilometers per hour at altitude, prioritizing endurance and efficiency over supersonic capability.
The B-2’s low observable design is achieved through composite materials, planform alignment, and specialized coatings that absorb and scatter radar waves. The internal payload capacity of the B-2 is officially rated at 18,000 kilograms distributed across two weapons bays, although some records indicate that combat missions have carried up to 27,000 kilograms. Each bay can accommodate rotary launchers or modular racks, depending on mission requirements. The aircraft can carry up to 80 GBU-38 500-pound Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAMs), or combinations of heavier GBU-31 2,000-pound variants when fewer but larger effects are required. It is certified to carry two 13,600-kilogram GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrators, one per bay, which were employed during Operation Midnight Hammer against deeply buried Iranian facilities. The B-2 also integrates the AGM-158 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM) family for long-range precision strikes when direct penetration is not desirable.
Unit procurement costs were approximately $929 million per B-2 in 1997 dollars, while total program cost averaged $2.13 billion per aircraft after including research, development, and maintenance infrastructure. (Picture source: Northrop Grumman)
Nuclear missions remain a component of its operational capability, with carriage options for legacy B61 and B83 gravity bombs and planned integration of the future Long-Range Standoff (LRSO) nuclear cruise missile. The avionics suite, for its part, integrates navigation, radar, electronic support, and threat management systems designed for precision and survivability. The AN/APQ-181 radar originally used mechanically scanned arrays but has been refitted with an active electronically scanned array (AESA) configuration to improve reliability, resolution, and resistance to jamming while preserving low-probability-of-intercept operation. The aircraft’s Defensive Management System (DMS) identifies and locates threat emitters, providing data to adjust routes automatically and minimize radar exposure during ingress and egress. The DMS-M modernization program has focused on improving spectral awareness, threat processing, and automation after earlier software issues delayed full fielding.
Communications systems now include Link 16 and beyond-line-of-sight connectivity to coordinate with joint and allied forces during complex missions. The cockpit and mission computers have received processor upgrades, improved displays, and enhanced data storage capacity to support integration with modern munitions and networked warfare systems. Together, these upgrades maintain the aircraft’s effectiveness against advanced integrated air defense networks and enable continued use of precision-guided munitions under contested conditions. Modernization efforts have also targeted structural, sustainment, and software components to extend the B-2’s service life and improve operational readiness. Maintenance improvements have focused on radar-absorbent material coatings, hangar environmental control, and inspection processes to reduce turnaround times. The Block 30 fleet has been progressively upgraded with the Radar Modernization Program, Defensive Management System modifications, and improved mission data file architecture.
Long-term plans align with keeping the aircraft operational until at least 2032, when the B-21 Raider is expected to assume most long-range strike responsibilities. Efforts continue to manage obsolescence across avionics, communications, and flight control systems, ensuring compatibility with evolving network-centric operations. Each airframe undergoes periodic depot-level maintenance and low-observable restoration at Whiteman Air Force Base to maintain mission capability. The Air Force Global Strike Command has emphasized that modernization will sustain nuclear and conventional capabilities while bridging the transition to next-generation systems, maintaining deterrence credibility through the end of the aircraft’s service life. Notably, in addition to its traditional strategic role, the B-2 has recently demonstrated capability in maritime strike applications.
In testing at the Eglin Gulf Test Range, the Air Force used a B-2 to release a QUICKSINK-modified 500-pound bomb, demonstrating its ability to neutralize moving surface vessels using JDAM-based guidance and a specialized sensor package. Later exercises in the Norwegian Sea paired a B-2 with Royal Norwegian Air Force F-35A aircraft to test precision anti-ship strikes on a maneuvering naval target, validating cooperative targeting in maritime environments. The QUICKSINK program aims to provide a cost-effective alternative to anti-ship cruise missiles, leveraging existing precision weapons for surface warfare missions. These developments expand the bomber’s mission set by allowing it to perform flexible strike operations in both land and sea domains. Integrating maritime strike capability aligns with U.S. Air Force goals for distributed operations and supports cooperation with NATO allies in high-threat littoral regions. The combination of stealth penetration and networked targeting enhances operational flexibility against a broader range of strategic and tactical objectives.
The B-2 program’s high procurement and operating costs have shaped fleet size and sustainment decisions throughout its history. Unit procurement costs were approximately $929 million per aircraft in 1997 dollars, while total program cost averaged $2.13 billion per aircraft after including research, development, and maintenance infrastructure. These figures reflect the effects of a limited production run and complex low observable maintenance requirements. The aircraft’s coatings and materials require climate-controlled hangars, extensive labor, and long maintenance cycles that reduce sortie generation rates compared to conventional bombers. Program managers have sought to improve maintainability through advanced materials, modular components, and automated inspection technologies. These improvements aim to balance operational demands with sustainment costs as the platform approaches the end of its production lifespan. Air Force planning currently maintains 20 operational B-2s, all undergoing incremental upgrades to ensure readiness for both nuclear deterrence and conventional global strike missions until the B-21 achieves full deployment through the 2030s.
Written by Jérôme Brahy
Jérôme Brahy is a defense analyst and documentalist at Army Recognition. He specializes in naval modernization, aviation, drones, armored vehicles, and artillery, with a focus on strategic developments in the United States, China, Ukraine, Russia, Türkiye, and Belgium. His analyses go beyond the facts, providing context, identifying key actors, and explaining why defense news matters on a global scale.
