Aircraft is a machine which flies supported by air. The wings of the plane generate lift which raises the main body and further the plane is controlled by the stabilizers at the rear. Stealth bomber is one such aircraft known for it’s speed and swiftness.

The B-2 bomber named the B2 Spirit, commonly known as stealth bomber, is an aircraft nearly invisible to enemy sensors and could carry bombs across the globe in few hours unrefueled for nearly 11000 Kms. It is capable of all altitude attack missions. It has a unique flying wing design which avoids the normal stabilizers and wings of the planes. Further the fuselage portion is not in the wings.

The aircraft is powered by four turbofan jet engines. It has elevons (up and down movement) & rudders (horizontal movement) which control the plane’s rotational movements. Computer in the aircraft works independent of pilot’s input. Air turbulence and corrections are automatically controlled by special systems in the plane. It’s a two seater air plane with provisions for the third if required. Minimal exhaust, narrow shape and black colour make it difficult to identify even during day times.

The bomber has got an aerodynamic efficient design. The engines are inside the plane and hence the noises are muffled. Further all exhausts pass through cooling tubes to avoid infrared sensors used by heat seeking missiles.

One beauty in the plane is the radar absorbent surface. B 2’s stealth comes from the reduced acoustic, visual, infrared and radar signatures. Radio energy is absorbed by certain materials and hence it absorbs radar signals. Further the curved surfaces deflect the radio waves. All reflective parts are inside the bomber. Rotary launchers in the plane can launch any type of bombs both conventional and nuclear. It carries JDAM bombs with internal guidance system coupled with GPS guidance.

It’s an amazing machine. But the cost is very high with each costing $2 billion and weather factors of the machine clearly not known. It requires air-conditioned hangars for maintaining the stealth technologies. However, transportable hangars are being developed. Anyway one can say it is the latest technology available in military aircrafts.

Image Credit: Striatic

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