The Northrop B-2 Spirit bombers, used in a recent attack on Iran by the United States, are recognized as the priciest military aircraft ever constructed.
These particular jets, each costing more than $2 billion to produce, are uniquely capable of deploying the massive 30,000-pound ‘bunker busting’ bombs, which were utilized on three Iranian nuclear facilities over the weekend.
Images captured before and after the strike reveal the significant impact of the US assault on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.
The operation was described as ‘highly classified,’ with the bombers reaching Iran undetected by the global community.
Dubbed ‘Operation Midnight Hammer,’ the mission involved a sophisticated strategy where some B-2 jets served as decoys by heading west from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri, while the main strike force headed east towards Iran.
This strategy proved effective.
The eastward-bound B-2 bombers managed to remain undetected, while attention was diverted to the decoys heading towards Guam.
These advanced aircraft have a range of 7,000 miles, requiring in-flight refueling during their 36-hour round trip to maintain stealth.
It reportedly took the pilots approximately 18 hours to fly from Missouri to Iran.
B-2 jets are equipped with essentials for extended missions, making long flights manageable for pilots.
Naveed Jamali, one of the few journalists to have seen the interior of these military jets, shared insights with Newsweek.
Designed for two pilots, the B-2 offers more space than typical bombers, including room for a sleeping bag.
“It’s not uncommon for one pilot to sleep while the other flies and to take shifts,” Jamali explained.
Despite the available space for rest, Jamali noted that the jets are not designed for comfort, describing the seating as ‘incredibly uncomfortable’.
A defense official confirmed that the B-2 includes a toilet, although it isn’t a fully equipped bathroom.
The New York Post also suggests the presence of a microwave on board.
The future of the tensions involving Iran, the US, and Israel remains uncertain, but Donald Trump has cautioned Iran against responding with force to the recent air strike.
The former president posted on Truth Social: “Any retaliation by Iran against the United States of America will be met with force far greater than what was witnessed [on Saturday].”