The United States Air Force has made a strategic decision to not repair one of its B-2 Spirit stealth bombers, which experienced a costly mishap, and instead, the venerable aircraft will be formally divested.

This move comes amidst the anticipated introduction of the new B-21 Raider stealth bombers, slated to replace the B-2s and B-1 bombers, signaling a shift in the USAF’s strategic arsenal and the evolution of its deterrent capabilities.

The B-2 Spirit, an iconic symbol of American airpower, suffered a ground accident assumed to be uneconomical to repair. The incident took place on December 10, 2022, during an emergency landing followed by a fire at Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri, the main operating base for the B-2 fleet.

The Air Force has been tight-lipped about specific details surrounding the mishap and the projected costs of repair, referring to the aircraft in an April Pentagon force structure report as “presumed to be uneconomical to repair.”

This decision is consequential for the fleet that has been a cornerstone of America’s nuclear triad, demonstrating advanced stealth capabilities essential for penetrating enemy territory and delivering precision-guided munitions.

The divestment of the damaged B-2 not only underscores the challenges of maintaining a small, specialized fleet but also the complexities and high costs associated with the B-2’s composite structures and exterior coatings.

Significantly, the damaged B-2 is the same one that, after its emergency landing, blocked the single runway at Whiteman for over a week, causing a six-month grounding of the entire fleet.

This event reiterated the fragile nature of these sophisticated aircraft and the impact of such incidents on the readiness and operational capability of the U.S. nuclear deterrent.

Though the specific costs to avoid the now-planned B-2 divestment are unknown, the price tag associated with B-2 repairs has been historically steep. After an earlier mishap in 2010, the Air Force spent $105 million to repair another B-2, which also included the price of a planned overhaul.

It is evident that return on investment considerations and the lengthy timespans often needed to return damaged stealthy aircraft like the B-2 to service are influential factors in the Air Force’s calculus.

Looking ahead, the B-21 Raider is in low-rate initial production, with the first pre-production aircraft having completed its maiden flight in November 2023.

Officials have expressed optimism about the progress of the B-21 program, suggesting that the new stealth bombers will begin entering service in the late 2020s.

While the existing B-2s still have service years ahead, with further upgrades and capabilities in the pipeline, the incident marks a turning point in the Air Force’s long-term strategic bomber planning.

The B-2 Spirit bombers have been a symbol of technological innovation and military strength, but the costly decision to divest one of these stealth giants indicates a pivotal move towards the next generation of aerial warfare.

As the B-21 Raider prepares to take flight, the Air Force’s bomber fleet is poised for a new era, ensuring that the United States remains at the forefront of stealth and deterrence capabilities in an ever-evolving global security landscape.

Relevant articles:
– Damaged B-2 Won’t Be Repaired, Fleet To Shrink To 19 Jets, The War Zone
– US Stealth Bomber Crash: Pentagon Decides To AXE The ‘Irreparable’ Warplane Damaged In 2022 Accident, EurAsian Times
– B-2 nuclear bomber fleet grounded amid search for safety defects, Air Force Times
– A Tale of Two Bombers, Air & Space Forces Magazine