Inside the B-2 Bomber and Its Tense Covert Strike on Iran

The B‑2 bomber is one of the world’s most secretive and expensive ones; each costs over $2 billion. It just flew a stealth mission to hit Iran’s nuclear sites. Here’s a clear, human look at how it works.

As part of “Operation Midnight Hammer,” seven B‑2s flew from Whiteman AFB in Missouri with a mix of decoys and attackers. A few plumed west to Guam; the rest went east towards Iran in total secrecy. One jet took 18 hours to reach Iranian airspace.

The B‑2 bomber’s stealthy flying wing design uses radar‑absorbing materials. It cost $2.1 billion each. Only the B‑2 can carry giant 30,000 lb bunker‑buster bombs like the GBU‑57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator. It can fly over 6,000 nautical miles without refueling.

Crewed by two pilots, the B‑2 bomber can stay aloft for over 40 hours. Pilots on a record set a 44‑hour flight time in 2001. During the Iran mission, jets did 37-hour flights.

Refueling in the sky is tough and blind; pilots rely on lights. On long missions, the B‑2 needs many refuels—seven in that 44‑hour flight. Fatigue is real. Crews use “go pills” or simple snacks like turkey sandwiches and sunflower seeds.

Despite the rough seats, B‑2 jets have small comforts: a cot, a toilet, a microwave, and a mini‑fridge. One pilot can rest while the other flies. Still, the cockpit isn’t plush; it’s cramped and functional.

Each B‑2 bomber can carry up to 40,000 lb of weaponry. This includes JDAMs, JSOW, JASSM missiles, and MOP bombs. The GBU‑57 can penetrate over 200 feet of reinforced concrete.

Its sleek shape and coatings make the B‑2 almost invisible to radar, and the pilots often “stealth up” near air defenses. The B‑2 bomber blends infrared, radar, acoustic, and visual stealth features.

In the Iran attack, B‑2s dropped 14 MOP bombs on Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. A submarine fired Tomahawks, too. The Pentagon calls it a major strategic success. Yet diplomacy experts warn the mission may widen the conflict.

Operating the B‑2 bomber costs about $65,000 an hour. Its fleet is small, just 19 operational planes, and is set to retire by 2032. It will be replaced by the B‑21 Raider.

The B‑2 bomber is a stealth powerhouse with raw, tense missions like the strike on Iran. It blends cutting‑edge tech with human grit. It’s costly, rare, and still vital in modern warfare.