Editing Northrop B-2 Spirit (section)

==Operational history==
[[File:B-2 Spirit 050404-F-1740G-001.jpg|thumb|A B-2 during [[aerial refueling]], which extends its range past {{convert|6000|nmi|mi km}} for intercontinental sorties]]

===1990s===
The first operational aircraft, christened ''Spirit of Missouri'', was delivered to [[Whiteman Air Force Base]], [[Missouri]], where the fleet is based, on 17 December 1993.<ref name=Pace_p66>{{harvnb|Pace|1999|p=66}}</ref> The B-2 reached initial operational capability (IOC) on 1 January 1997.<ref name=Pace_p73>{{harvnb|Pace|1999|p=73}}</ref> Depot maintenance for the B-2 is accomplished by USAF contractor support and managed at [[Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center]] at [[Tinker Air Force Base]].<ref name=B-2_AF_fact_sheet>[https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/104482/b-2-spirit/ "B-2 Spirit Fact Sheet."]  ''U.S. Air Force''. Retrieved 8 January 2015.</ref> Originally designed to deliver nuclear weapons, modern usage has shifted towards a flexible role with conventional and nuclear capability.<ref name= "tucker 177"/>

The B-2's combat debut was in 1999, during the [[Kosovo War]]. It was responsible for destroying 33% of selected Serbian bombing [[Bullseye (target)|targets]] in the first eight weeks of U.S. involvement in the war.<ref name=B-2_AF_fact_sheet/> During this war, six B-2s flew non-stop to [[Yugoslavia]] from their home base in Missouri and back, totaling 30 hours. Although the bombers accounted 50 sorties out of a total of 34,000 NATO sorties, they dropped 11 percent of all bombs.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Ho|first=David|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-23222353.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924180425/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-23222353.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=24 September 2015|title=Air Force Says Bomber Performed Well|agency=Associated Press|date=30 June 1999|access-date=12 June 2015}}</ref> The B-2 was the first aircraft to deploy GPS satellite-guided [[Joint Direct Attack Munition|JDAM "smart bombs"]] in combat use in Kosovo.<ref>Hansen, Staff Sgt. Ryan. [https://www.af.mil/News/story/id/123017613/ "JDAM continues to be warfighter's weapon of choice."] ''US Air Force'', 17 March 2006. Retrieved 13 September 2009.</ref> The use of JDAMs and precision-guided munitions effectively replaced the controversial tactic of [[Carpet bombing|carpet-bombing]], which had been harshly criticized due to it causing indiscriminate civilian casualties in prior conflicts, such as the 1991 [[Gulf War]].<ref>{{harvnb|Tucker|2010|pp= 177–178}}</ref> On 7 May 1999, a B-2 erroneously [[U.S. bombing of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade|dropped five JDAMs on the Chinese Embassy]]<ref>{{harvnb|Rip|Hasik|2002|p=398}}</ref> due to an error in targeting instructions, killing three people and injuring 20.<ref name="Schmitt" /> By then, the B-2 had dropped 500 bombs in Yugoslavia.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Diamond|first=John|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-23143398.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924180409/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-23143398.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=24 September 2015|title=B-2s Turn Out Not To Be Solo Flyers|agency=Associated Press|date=7 May 1999|access-date=14 June 2015}}</ref>

===2000s===
The B-2 bombed ground targets at the beginning of the [[War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)]] ([[Operation Crescent Wind]]/Operation Enduring Freedom). With aerial refueling support, the B-2 flew one of its longest missions to date from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri to Afghanistan and back.<ref name=B-2_AF_fact_sheet/> B-2s would be stationed in the Middle East as a part of a US military buildup in the region from 2003.<ref>"Pressure mounts as stealth bombers deployed". ''The Age'', 28 February 2003.</ref>

The B-2's combat use preceded a USAF declaration of "full operational capability" in December 2003.<ref name=B-2_AF_fact_sheet/> The Pentagon's Operational Test and Evaluation 2003 Annual Report noted that the B-2's serviceability for Fiscal Year 2003 was still inadequate, mainly due to the maintainability of the B-2's low observable coatings. The evaluation also noted that the Defensive Avionics suite had shortcomings with "pop-up threats".<ref name=B-2_AF_fact_sheet/><ref name= "tucker 178">{{harvnb|Tucker|2010|p=178}}</ref>

During the [[Iraq War]], B-2s operated from [[Diego Garcia]] and an undisclosed "forward operating location". Other [[sortie]]s in Iraq have launched from Whiteman AFB.<ref name=B-2_AF_fact_sheet/> {{as of|2013|09}} the longest combat mission has been 44.3 hours.<ref name="chiles201309">{{cite news | url=http://www.airspacemag.com/military-aviation/The-Stealth-Bomber-Elite-220257381.html?c=y&story=fullstory | title=The Stealth Bomber Elite | work=Air & Space | date=September 2013 | access-date=9 September 2013 | author=Chiles, James R. | archive-date=12 November 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131112175855/http://www.airspacemag.com/military-aviation/The-Stealth-Bomber-Elite-220257381.html?c=y&story=fullstory | url-status=live}}</ref> "Forward operating locations" have been previously designated as [[Andersen Air Force Base]] in [[Guam]] and [[RAF Fairford]] in the United Kingdom, where new climate controlled hangars have been constructed. B-2s have conducted 27 sorties from Whiteman AFB and 22 sorties from a forward operating location, releasing more than {{convert|1500000|lb|kg}} of munitions,<ref name=B-2_AF_fact_sheet/> including 583 JDAM "smart bombs" in 2003.<ref name= POGO>[http://pogoarchives.org/m/dp/dp-2003-B2.pdf "Air Force programs: B-2."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727182239/http://pogoarchives.org/m/dp/dp-2003-B2.pdf |date=27 July 2011}} ''Project On Government Oversight'' (POGO), 16 April 2004. Retrieved 13 September 2009.</ref>

===2010s===
[[File:B-2 Spirit Dyess AFB Air Show 2018.jpg|thumb|The ''Spirit of Missouri'' at the [[Dyess AFB]] air show in 2018. This view depicts the body's two dimensional and seamless design, a distinct feature for evading radar detection.]]

In response to organizational issues and high-profile mistakes made within the USAF,<ref>McNeil, Kirsten. [http://www.armscontrol.org/act/2008_12/nuclear_roadmap "Air Force Reorganizes Nuclear Commands."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120202203600/http://www.armscontrol.org/act/2008_12/nuclear_roadmap |date=2 February 2012}} ''armscontrol.org'', December 2012.</ref><ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7690447.stm "US plans separate nuclear command."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081026020951/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7690447.stm |date=26 October 2008}} ''BBC News'', 25 October 2008. Retrieved 13 September 2009.</ref> all of the B-2s, along with the nuclear-capable B-52s and the USAF's [[intercontinental ballistic missile]]s (ICBMs), were transferred to the newly formed [[Air Force Global Strike Command]] on 1 February 2010.<ref>[https://www.af.mil/News/story/id/123188338/ "Air Force Global Strike Command officials assume B-52, B-2 mission."] United States Air Force, 2 February 2010.</ref><ref>Chavanne, Bettina H. [http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_generic.jsp?channel=defense&id=news/GSC102408.xml&headline=USAF%20Creates%20Global%20Strike%20Command "USAF Creates Global Strike Command."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120111032006/http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_generic.jsp?channel=defense&id=news%2FGSC102408.xml&headline=USAF%20Creates%20Global%20Strike%20Command |date=11 January 2012}} ''Aviation Week'', 24 October 2008. Retrieved 13 September 2009.</ref>

In March 2011, B-2s were the first U.S. aircraft into action in [[Operation Odyssey Dawn]], the UN mandated enforcement of the [[Libyan no-fly zone]]. Three B-2s dropped 40 bombs on a Libyan airfield in support of the UN no-fly zone.<ref name="Crisis">Martin, David. [https://www.cbsnews.com/news/crisis-in-libya-us-bombs-qaddafis-airfields/ "Crisis in Libya: U.S. bombs Qaddafi's airfields"]. CBS News, 20 March 2011.</ref> The B-2s flew directly from the U.S. mainland across the Atlantic Ocean to Libya; a B-2 was refueled by allied tanker aircraft four times during each round trip mission.<ref>Tirpak, John A. {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20120730193442/http://www.airforce-magazine.com/MagazineArchive/Pages/2011/July%202011/0711libya.aspx "Bombers Over Libya."]}} ''Air Force Magazine'', July 2011.</ref><ref>Marcus, Jonathan. [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12813168 "Libya military operation: Who should command?"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180929215912/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12813168 |date=29 September 2018}} ''BBC News'', 21 March 2011.</ref>

In August 2011, ''[[The New Yorker]]'' reported that prior to the May 2011 U.S. Special Operations raid into [[Abbottabad]], [[Pakistan]] that resulted in the [[death of Osama bin Laden]], U.S. officials had considered an airstrike by one or more B-2s as an alternative; the use of a [[bunker buster|bunker busting]] bomb was rejected due to potential damage to nearby civilian buildings.<ref>Schmidle, Nicholas. [http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2011/08/08/110808fa_fact_schmidle?currentPage=all "Getting Bin Laden."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150513115000/http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2011/08/08/110808fa_fact_schmidle?currentPage=all |date=13 May 2015}} ''The New Yorker'', 8 August 2011.</ref> There were also concerns an airstrike would make it difficult to positively identify Bin Laden's remains, making it hard to confirm his death.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/us-had-planned-air-strike-to-level-osama-abbottabad-hideout/1/216617.html |title=US had planned air strike to level Osama's Abbottabad hideout: Americas, News |work=India Today |date=9 September 2012 |access-date=21 December 2013 |archive-date=15 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220815025035/https://www.indiatoday.in/world/americas/story/us-had-planned-air-strike-to-level-osama-abbottabad-hideout-115557-2012-09-09 |url-status=live}}</ref>

On 28 March 2013, two B-2s flew a round trip of {{convert|13000|mi|km|abbr=out}} from Whiteman Air Force base in Missouri to South Korea, dropping dummy ordnance on the Jik Do target range. The mission, part of the annual South Korean–U.S. military exercises, was the first time that B-2s overflew the Korean Peninsula. Tensions between the Koreas were high; North Korea protested against the B-2's participation and made threats of retaliatory nuclear strikes against South Korea and the United States.<ref>[http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/afp/130328/us-flies-stealth-bombers-over-south-korea US flies stealth bombers over South Korea] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130403212710/http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/afp/130328/us-flies-stealth-bombers-over-south-korea |date= 3 April 2013}} Agence France-Presse, 28 April 2013.</ref><ref>[https://www.cbsnews.com/news/us-flies-b-2-stealth-bombers-to-s-korea-in-extended-deterrence-mission-aimed-at-north/ "U.S. flies B-2 stealth bombers to S. Korea in 'extended deterrence mission' aimed at North"]. CBS News, 28 March 2013.</ref>

On 18 January 2017, two B-2s attacked an ISIS training camp {{convert|30|km|mi|order=flip}} southwest of [[Sirte, Libya]], killing around 85 militants. The B-2s together dropped 108 {{convert|500|lb|kg|adj=on}} precision-guided [[Joint Direct Attack Munition]] (JDAM) bombs. These strikes were followed by an [[General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper|MQ-9 Reaper]] unmanned aerial vehicle firing Hellfire missiles. Each B-2 flew a 33-hour, round-trip mission from Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri with four or five (accounts differ) refuelings during the trip.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.foxnews.com/world/b-2-bombers-kill-nearly-100-isis-terrorists-in-libya |title=B-2 bombers kill nearly 100 ISIS terrorists in Libya |first=Lucas |last=Tomlinson |date=19 January 2017 |publisher=Fox News |access-date=2 July 2018 |archive-date=2 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180702122101/http://www.foxnews.com/world/2017/01/19/b-2-bombers-kill-nearly-100-isis-terrorists-in-libya.html |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Langewiesche |first1=William |title=An Extraordinarily Expensive Way to Fight ISIS |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2018/07/william-langewiesche-b-2-stealth-bomber/561719/ |magazine=The Atlantic |date=July–August 2018 |access-date=2 July 2018 |archive-date=27 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180627111647/https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2018/07/william-langewiesche-b-2-stealth-bomber/561719/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

=== 2020s ===
On 16 October 2024, B-2As carried out strikes on weapons storage facilities in [[Yemen]], including underground facilities owned by the [[Houthi movement|Houthis]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Liebermann |first=Oren |last2=Bertrand |first2=Natasha |last3=Britzky |first3=Haley |date=2024-10-16 |title=US B-2 bombers strike Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen |url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/16/politics/us-strikes-iran-backed-houthis-yemen/index.html |access-date=2024-10-17 |website= CNN Politics |language=en}}</ref> Five hardened underground weapons storage locations were struck as part of the campaign against the Houthis for attacking international shipping during the [[Red Sea crisis]]. It was believed the strikes also served as a warning to Iran, demonstrating the stealth bomber's ability to destroy targets buried underground.<ref>[https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/us-long-range-2-stealth-bombers-target-underground-114880390 US long-range B-2 stealth bombers target underground bunkers of Yemen's Houthi rebels]. ''[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]]''. 16 October 2024.</ref><ref>[https://www.twz.com/air/b-2-spirits-just-sent-a-very-ominous-message-to-iran-that-only-they-can B-2 Spirits Just Sent A Very Ominous Message To Iran]. ''The War Zone''. 17 October 2024.</ref> [[RAAF Base Tindal]] in the [[Northern Territory]], Australia was used as a staging ground for the strikes.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-10-18 |title=Australian air base used as staging ground for US strike on Houthi weapon stores |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-10-18/australian-airbase-used-in-us-strike-on-houthi-stores-yemen/104490578 |access-date=2024-10-18 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}}</ref>