Preliminary work on the creation of a strategic bomber using designs and materials, absorbing radio waves, It started in 1978 city, and a formal contract was signed with the US Air Force in October 1981 g. The metal stealth aircraft was presented in 1988 city, and the first flight of B-2 made 17 July 1989 g. The first combat aircraft arrived at Whiteman AFB (Missouri) 17 December 1993 city. and the readiness of the two air squadrons wing of 8 aircraft was achieved by the end of 1995 g. The total number of B-2 is 20 machines, 4 of which in turn will be on maintenance or modernization.
Bomber B-2 Spirit – video
Limiting the total number of "stealth" aircraft due to the high cost of the machine (about 2 billion) and decrease the likelihood of a nuclear conflict with the Soviet republics disintegrated. This involves the use of the B-2 bomber as with conventional weaponry to strike large clusters enemy (which it was tested during "Operation Deliberate Force" with strikes against Yugoslavia in March 1999 city).
Bomber was developed with extensive use of "stealth" technology, complicating its detection by radar infrared, acoustic and visual means. In particular, Glider for reducing ESR B-2 is a complex cellular design using graphite materials moksidnyh with partial application of a high-strength aluminum and titanium.
The channels are curved engine air intakes (S-shaped) shape and covered with radar absorbing materials. Such materials are applied on a large part of the surface of the aircraft. As noted in the foreign press, The magnitude of the EPR-2 strictly classified, but it is expected, the signal, reflected from the aircraft in the direction of the irradiating its radar, 100-1000 times less, than that of B-1. In this case, EPR-2 slightly higher than the ESR small birds, low visibility and reduces the range of detection in more than 4 fold, that provides the appearance of "dead zones" in the view area air defense system radar chain and reduces the likelihood of its detection AWACS aircraft. According to the former chief of the US Air Force Staff, General Welch, EPR aircraft B-2 is so small, that the pilot of the fighter-interceptor will detect it visually, rather than using the on-board devices.
B-2 is designed as a flying wing, much of which is made of composite materials and has no vertical tail. aerodynamic surfaces are used to control (fissionable shields), placed at the trailing edge of the wing, in medium-scale parts of the body are found 3 sections эlevonov. and the center of the back - deflecting surface ("Beaver tail"), serves to balance the aircraft longitudinal. Aerodynamic surfaces have a slight shoulder cent by weight with respect to the aircraft, so additional longitudinal control points provide deflectors jets engines. chassis tricycle. Key rack with four-wheel bogies mounted on the outside of the engine compartment and removed ahead. Front pillar coaxial with the wheel retracted back. Folds all racks have a zigzag edge.
The crew consists of two people - a pilot and a control officer. Ejection seats arranged next to each other. Also provides for the possibility of placing a third member of the crew if necessary. The compartment for the crew and payload begins immediately behind the apex of the wing, and ends at the point, wherein the fuselage smoothly into the upper surface of wing.
The power plant consists of four unforced TRD. two air intakes (one for each pair of engines) with the sawtooth leading edge and the S-shaped curved downward channel to avoid radar irradiation compressor motors located at the top of the wing. To reduce the radar visibility engine nozzles are flat. Reducing the level of infrared radiation is provided by reduction of the exhaust gas temperature at the outlet nozzles of the engines by mixing with the cooling air, discharged from the blow-off slot of the boundary layer in front of air inlets. The fuel tanks are located in wing panels and intermediate parts of the tail housing sections.
To increase the flight distance B-2 is equipped with refueling in the air system (toplivopriemnikom placed behind the cockpit). by-wire aircraft control system, with quadruple redundancy. The structure of the onboard equipment includes a navigation subsystem, inertial unit comprising, associated with astroinertial unit, two multifunctional radar AN / APQ-118 synthetic aperture, that provides high resolution and can detect with great accuracy the fixed and mobile ICBMs. Airborne radar was allowed to carry out ground mapping, navigation system correction and provides flight mode terrain following.
Arming is located in the two internal compartments of arms, near the center of the housing, on new rotary launchers AARL. On each of them can be hung 8 Nuclear ur SRAM, SRAM-2 or KR AGM-129A (ACM). They may also be used in nuclear bombs-61 or B-83 to either 70 explosive bombs total weight 17420 kg.
Performance characteristics of the B-2 Spirit
– First flight: 17 July 1989 of the year
– Getting Started: 1997 year
– years of production: 1988—1999
– units produced: 21
– The cost of developing the program: 44 billion
Cost B-2
– 1 billion (without equipment) 2 billion 100 million 300 thousand (with equipment), according NSIAD-97-181
Crew B-2
– 2 man
Dimensions B-2
– Length: 20,90 m
– Wingspan: 52,12 m
– Height: 5,10 m
– wing area: 460 m²
Weight B-2
– empty weight: 71700 kg
– normal takeoff weight: 152600 kg
– maximum takeoff weight: 171000 kg
– fuel mass: 73000 kg
– payload mass: to 22730 kg (to 27000 kg after modernization)
Engine B-2
– engine's type: Turbofan
– model: «General Electric F118-GE-100»
– maximum thrust: 4 × 7700 kgf
– engine weight: 1452 kg
– Thrust-to-weight ratio at a normal takeoff weight: 0,20 kg / kg
– Thrust-to-weight ratio at the maximum takeoff weight: 0,18 kg / kg
Speed B-2
– full speed: 1010 kmh (M = 0.95)
– Cruising speed: 900 kmh (M = 0.85)
Flight range B-2
– maximum: 11100 km
– combat radius: 5300 km
– flight duration: to 6,5 no
Practical ceiling B-2
– 15240 m
Arming B-2
– combat load: to 22 730 kg (to 27 000 kg after modernization)
– Nuclear weapon: 16 x V61-11 (340 kilotonn) or 16 B83's (1,1 megatons) or 16 h AGM-129 or ACM 16 х AGM-131 SRAM II
– conventional bombs: 80 x Mk.82 or 16 x Mk.84 or 36 Cluster bombs x CBU-87 / CBU-89 GATOR
– precision weapons: 8 h GBU-27 or AGM-154 or JSOW 12 x JDAM
– cruise missiles: 16 х Agn-158 JASSM
Photo B-2 Spirit
