What Are B-2 Bombers? The World's Most Expensive Warplanes US Used To Strike Iran

The B-2 bomber reportedly flew non-stop for around 37 hours from its base in Missouri and got refuelled several times mid-air.

The B-2 can launch missions directly from bases in the continental United States to virtually anywhere on the globe.

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The powerful B-2 Spirit stealth bombers, involved in US airstrikes on Iran's nuclear facilities, are among the most advanced and expensive aircraft ever built. President Donald Trump authorised their use in the attack on Iran’s Fordow nuclear site on Saturday, according to a US official who spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity.

B-2 Bombers: World's Most Expensive Warplane

Each B-2 bomber costs approximately $2.1 billion, making it the costliest military aircraft in history. Manufactured by Northrop Grumman, the bomber was originally developed during the Cold War to penetrate sophisticated Soviet air defences with nuclear payloads. However, the planned production run was cut short after the collapse of the Soviet Union, resulting in only 21 units ever being made.

With a range of over 6,000 nautical miles (11,112 km) without refuelling, the B-2 can launch missions directly from bases in the continental United States to virtually anywhere on the globe. With aerial refuelling, its operational reach becomes truly unlimited. Past missions have demonstrated this capability with long-range sorties from Missouri to Afghanistan, Libya, and now Iran.

The aircraft is crewed by just two pilots and is capable of delivering over 40,000 pounds (18,144 kg) of conventional or nuclear weapons from internal bays designed to maintain its stealth signature.

Equipped for Deep Impact: The Bunker Busters

In Saturday's strike on Iran's Fordow nuclear site, six GBU-57A/B Massive Ordnance Penetrators (MOPs), also known as "bunker buster" bombs, were used. Each weighs approximately 30,000 pounds and is engineered to destroy deeply buried facilities, such as reinforced nuclear research bunkers.

The B-2 is one of the only aircraft capable of carrying these enormous weapons, and its stealth design allows it to approach heavily defended targets with a low risk of detection.

The bomber’s most defining feature is its stealth capability. Constructed with radar-absorbing materials and a unique angular shape, the B-2 has an extremely low radar cross-section. Military analysts often describe its radar profile as comparable to a small bird, allowing it to evade sophisticated enemy air defence systems.

As tensions escalate following the strikes on Iran, the deployment of the B-2 Spirit once again underlines its role as a strategic tool for high-risk, high-impact military missions.