Key Points – The B-2 Spirit stealth bomber’s production was severely limited to just 21 aircraft, primarily due to two factors: its staggering cost and the geopolitical shift at the end of the Cold War.
-With a price tag of $2.1 billion per aircraft, the B-2 was the most expensive ever built, making it a target for budget cuts.
-The collapse of the Soviet Union—the adversary it was designed to penetrate—led to the “Peace Dividend” era, where US policymakers no longer saw the need for a large fleet of such expensive strategic bombers, reducing the original order from over 100.
Why the B-2 Bomber Had Such a Limited Production Run
The B-2 Spirit bomber is one of the most famous airplanes in the United States Air Force fleet. It is rarely seen by the public, and it makes few appearances at air shows in the United States, but flyovers at events are always impressive. The B-2 has also enjoyed a stellar combat record, having served for decades in “shock and awe” capacity or for close air support during the Global War on Terror.
These days, many of the stealth bombers are stationed at Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean. They are ready to fly at a moment’s notice to destroy Houthi terror targets in Yemen should the cease-fire break or to intervene in the Iran-Israel war if US interests are threatened in the Central Command area of operations.
Twenty B-2s Project Power in Nuclear or Conventional Ops
There are only 20 B-2s in service, and this entire group is not combat-effective at all times. Many are grounded for maintenance needs, repairs, and various upgrades.
At least six of the bombers are now flying patrols out of Diego Garcia. The B-2s usually conduct missions out of Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri. They can strike anywhere in the world at any time, and they don’t always need to be forward-deployed. Still, the mission out of Diego Garcia gives them a robust operational capacity to dominate the skies over the Middle East.
Nuclear Option Is Always Available
The B-2 is a crucial component of the American nuclear triad. The stealthiness is excellent, and the ultra-long-range capabilities make them play a significant role in projecting US power and forming a deterrent, contributing to the “Peace Through Strength” strategic role. They can also attack with conventional precision-guided munitions that can menace enemy ground targets.
This Was One Expensive Airplane
But why were they limited to such a small number if the bombers were so great? One reason is the high cost during the original acquisition period. The B-2 set the Air Force back $2.1 billion each during the first build-out. This is a substantial price at a time when budgetary resources are scarce. It was the most expensive aircraft ever built at the time, and many wondered if the price was worth it.
It Will Be Replaced With Something Better
Plus, the bomber is getting long in the tooth. This airplane is more than 30 years old, and some of its onboard systems are becoming obsolete. It will be costly to replace sensors and avionics, for example. These funds could be better spent on the new B-21 Raider stealth bomber, which is expected to replace the B-2 by 2030.
The Air Force originally wanted over 100 B-2s. That order was cut down to 75 because of budget cuts. By the time of the George H.W. Bush administration, the force had dwindled to 21. This occurred during the disintegration of the Soviet Union following the end of the Cold War. The B-2 was designed to attack the Russians and deliver nuclear weapons if the worst happened with the Soviet Union in a first or second nuclear strike. American battle planners were not convinced that more B-2s were needed during the 1990s.
Peace Dividend Limited the Numbers
This was the era of the “Peace Dividend,” during which the US military was perceived as too large and bloated. There was a movement to retire Cold War-era military hardware and limit the use of specific systems to prevent them from diverting essential resources away from domestic spending priorities. The B-2 was limited due to these considerations.
Additionally, the B-2 has become an older legacy aircraft. It required more maintenance and upkeep of its stealth attributes and other systems. This was seen as time-consuming and expensive. Congressional critics were quick to question whether the B-2 was needed in the absence of a near-peer adversary. The B-2 was instrumental during the Global War on Terror, but it was still seen as a Cold War relic in which its nuclear capability was not needed as much.
Now, the threat environment has changed again. There is still the danger from extremist terrorists in Yemen and the rest of the Middle East. But Russia has attacked Ukraine and has kept most of its air force intact. Iran and Israel are fighting a war, and China continues to build out its bomber program.
The B-2 is still needed until the B-21 can replace it. The old warbird has been an expensive Air Force asset over the years, making it a fat target for congressional budget cutters. The systems are aging, and maintaining their stealth attributes is becoming increasingly complex.
However, Air Force battle planners likely wish that more B-2s had been built. They will play an essential role in the coming months as the Iran-Israeli clashes continue to heat up. The B-21 is not yet ready for full deployment, and the B-52 is undergoing a challenging period with the implementation of a new engine and radar replacement program.
Perhaps the US military made the wrong decisions regarding the B-2 program. Still, these airplanes were perceived as too expensive to procure and ultimately deemed unnecessary at the end of the Cold War. It’s too bad they will finally be retired after spending a long service record fighting American enemies for over 30 years.
However, the United States faced difficult budgetary choices, and the B-2 became a victim of austerity at a time when the global system was unipolar, not multipolar.
About the Author: Dr. Brent M. Eastwood
Brent M. Eastwood, PhD is the author of Don’t Turn Your Back On the World: a Conservative Foreign Policy and Humans, Machines, and Data: Future Trends in Warfare plus two other books. Brent was the founder and CEO of a tech firm that predicted world events using artificial intelligence. He served as a legislative fellow for US Senator Tim Scott and advised the senator on defense and foreign policy issues. He has taught at American University, George Washington University, and George Mason University. Brent is a former US Army Infantry officer. He can be followed on X @BMEastwood.
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