The United States Air Force has made the strategic decision to retire one of its B-2 Spirit stealth bombers after a costly mishap.

The bomber, which suffered damage after an emergency landing at Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri, in December 2022, will not be repaired due to the high costs and complexities involved.

This move reduces the B-2 fleet to 19 operational aircraft, with the Defense Department citing the repairs as “uneconomical.” The precise costs of the repair have not been disclosed; however, the decision is not unexpected, given the B-2’s elaborate design and sophisticated stealth technology that makes even minor repairs an intricate and expensive endeavor.

The B-2, a key component of U.S. nuclear forces, has long provided a strategic advantage with its ability to deliver both conventional and nuclear munitions while evading sophisticated enemy defenses.

The B-2’s low observability is derived from a combination of reduced infrared, acoustic, electromagnetic, visual and radar signatures. These signatures make it difficult for the sophisticated defensive systems to detect, track and engage the B-2.

Many aspects of the low-observability process remain classified; however, the B-2’s composite materials, special coatings and flying-wing design all contribute to its “stealthiness.”

Yet, with an original procurement of just 21 aircraft due to their staggering costs—approximately $2 billion each—the fleet has always remained small.

The loss of this aircraft follows a previous loss in 2008 when another Spirit crashed in Guam.

Despite the temporary decrease in numbers, the Air Force is looking towards the future, as it plans to acquire at least 100 B-21 Raiders to eventually replace the B-2 and B-1B Lancer bombers.

The B-21 Raider, developed by Northrop Grumman, is touted as a sixth-generation aircraft, integrating advanced technologies that will sustain the United States’ aerial combat superiority well into the future.

Northrop Grumman has been awarded a $7 billion sustainment contract for the B-2 that runs through 2029, ensuring the remaining fleet remains combat-effective until the B-21s become fully operational.

The decision to retire rather than repair the B-2 reflects broader strategic planning within the Air Force to reallocate resources towards next-generation platforms.

Over the next five fiscal years, the service plans to divest 932 aircraft, yielding over $18 billion in savings.

Including the one B-2, the service wants to get rid of 251 aircraft total in fiscal 2025. Then, it wants to shed 293 aircraft in 2026, 235 in 2027, 95 in 2028 and 64 in 2029.

It hasn’t been decided yet what will be done with the condemned aircraft, a service spokesperson said. Depending on its condition, it might be used as a maintenance trainer, for engineering fit checks, or displayed, possibly at the Museum of the U.S. Air Force in Dayton, Ohio, or as a pole-mounted gate guard at Whiteman.

Relevant articles:
– Air Force Will Retire, Not Repair, Damaged B, Air & Space Forces Magazine
– Why the U.S. Air Force Now Only Has 19 B-2 Spirit Bombers, The National Interest
– United States Nuclear Forces, fas.org
– B-2 that caught fire in 2022 won’t be fixed, Air Force confirms, Defense One