Original subtitles

IT'S THE WORLD'S MOST EXPENSIVE

Downloaded from YTS.MX

AND MYSTERIOUS AIRCRAFT.

HIGH FLYING...

Official YIFY movies site: YTS.MX

HIGHLY CLASSIFIED...

AND DEADLY ACCURATE.

THE MOST ACCURATE BOMBING IN THE HISTORY OF AIR WARFARE.

FOR TWO DECADES THE B-2 STEALTH BOMBER

HAS DEFIED SKEPTICS AND MYSTIFIED ENEMIES.

THIS IS THE INSIDE STORY...

I COULD FEEL THE BOMBS GOING OFF

BEFORE THEY DISAPPEARED.

HOW THE B-2 SWITCHED COURSE...

IT HAD NEVER BEEN TESTED.

OVERCAME CRITICS AND TRAGEDY...

TO CHANGE THE SHAPE OF AVIATION FOREVER.

FEBRUARY 2011.

THE ARAB SPRING BLOOMS IN LIBYA.

COLONEL MUAMMAR GADDAFI

ORDERS HIS ARMY TO ATTACK HIS OWN PEOPLE.

AN OUTRAGED INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY RESPONDS,

AND THE UNITED NATIONS DECLARES ALL OF LIBYA A NO-FLY ZONE...

BUT HOW BEST TO ENFORCE IT?

5,000 MILES AWAY IN MISSOURI-- INSIDE WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE--

STRICT SECURITY SURROUNDS THE FLIGHT LINE.

HERE, SPECIALLY TRAINED MAINTENANCE CREWS

PREPARE THE WORLD'S MOST SECRETIVE AIRCRAFT

FOR POSSIBLE COMBAT.

WHITEMAN HAS HOUSED THE B-2s IN CLIMATE-CONTROLLED HANGARS

FOR 20 YEARS.

KEEPING THEM COMBAT READY IS NO EASY FEAT.

THE SKILL LEVEL FOR THE MEMBERS

THAT ARE WORKING ON THE B-2 IN PARTICULAR IS VERY UNIQUE.

IT TAKES ANYWHERE FROM THREE TO FOUR YEARS

TO BE QUALIFIED AND EXPERIENCED ON THIS AIRCRAFT.

THE SKIN OF THE BOMBERS MUST BE FREE OF ANY DENTS

TO MAINTAIN OPTIMUM STEALTH.

THIS INDIVIDUAL UP HERE

IS PERFORMING A POST-FLIGHT INSPECTION ON THE AIRCRAFT

TO DETERMINE IF THERE ARE ANY ANOMALIES OR DEFECTS

THAT NEED TO BE FIXED.

THERE'S A LOT MORE THAT GOES

INTO KEEPING THIS AIRCRAFT HEALTHY

IN THE AMOUNT OF HOURS IT TAKES

TO MAINTAIN THE STEALTH CAPABILITIES.

IN MARCH 2011, THE CALL COMES

TO PREP FOR A POSSIBLE MISSION IN LIBYA.

THE SIX B-2 PILOTS WITH THE MOST EXPERIENCE

RECEIVE AN UNUSUAL TOP SECRET ORDER--

THEY ARE TOLD TO SLEEP.

CREW REST IS THE 12 HOURS PRIOR TO SHOWING UP TO FLY

THAT A PILOT IS MANDATED TO HAVE TO DO NOTHING.

RETIRED COLONEL ERIC SINGLE

WAS THE FIRST PILOT EVER TO FLY THE B-2 IN COMBAT.

HE FOUND PRE-MISSION REST NEXT TO IMPOSSIBLE.

YOU'RE TRYING TO REST,

BUT AT THE SAME TIME YOU'RE PRETTY EXCITED.

TRYING TO GET SOME SLEEP DURING THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY

NEVER WORKS OUT WITH WIVES AND KIDS AND DAYTIME OUTSIDE,

SO IT'S TOUGH TO DO,

BUT YOU GET AS MUCH REST AND MENTAL PREPARATION AS YOU CAN.

MILITARY CHIEFS ASK FOR THREE STEALTH BOMBERS

TO DO IN LIBYA WHAT THEY'VE BECOME KNOWN FOR--

KNOCKING DOWN THE DOOR.

THAT MEANS THE B-2 IS ASSIGNED

TO TAKE DOWN KEY TARGETS ON NIGHT ONE OF THE CAMPAIGN--

BY KNOCKING DOWN THE DOOR,

YOU WEAKEN THE ENEMY'S AIR DEFENSES.

AUTHOR DR. REBECCA GRANT

IS THE FOREMOST CIVILIAN EXPERT ON THE B-2.

LIBYA IS AN EXAMPLE OF HOW MUCH THE B-2 IS IN DEMAND.

THESE MISSIONS WERE CLASSIC B-2;

MAKE SURE THAT GADAFFI COULD NOT USE

THE REMNANTS OF HIS AIR FORCE

TO CHALLENGE NATO AIRCRAFT ENFORCING THE NO-FLY ZONE.

THE FLIGHT-EQUIPMENT DEPARTMENT

IS THE LAST STOP BEFORE PILOTS BOARD THE PLANE.

THEY COLLECT SURVIVAL GEAR,

INCLUDING A NINE-MILLIMETER HANDGUN

IN CASE THEY'RE SHOT DOWN OVER ENEMY TERRITORY.

THEN OUT TO THEIR BOMBERS.

THERE IS ONLY ONE WAY INTO A B-2--

THE STAIRS ON ITS BELLY--

AND TWO WAYS OUT--

THE STAIRS AGAIN, OR THE EMERGENCY EJECTION SEATS.

THE INSIDE IS CLASSIFIED,

BUT WE CAN TELL YOU THERE'S A HUGE SLOPING WINDSCREEN

WITH AN EQUALLY HUGE INSTRUMENT PANEL.

BEHIND THE TWO PILOT SEATS,

A RECTANGULAR FLOOR SPACE FOUR FOOT BY SIX FOOT.

JUST BIG ENOUGH TO LIE DOWN.

THEN A TOILET--

SORRY, LIMITED CAPACITY AND NO PARTITIONS--

AND A MICROWAVE TO WARM UP BOMBER DOGS, A PILOT FAVORITE.

MARCH 18.

COMMANDERS SEND THREE B-2s TO ATTACK IN LIBYA.

ENOUGH TO INFLICT THE DAMAGE

OF MORE THAN A HUNDRED CONVENTIONAL AIRCRAFT.

THEY'LL BE IN LIBYA IN 12 HOURS--

AND STILL, ONLY A SELECT FEW KNOW THEY'RE GOING.

FOR MOST OF THE WAY, THE B-2s APPEAR ON RADAR

AS ORDINARY AIRCRAFT.

THEY MOSTLY FLY ON AUTO PILOT,

BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN REST FOR THE TWO-PERSON CREW

ABOARD EACH BOMBER.

THEY MUST DEAL WITH THE MANY SYSTEMS ON BOARD

AND TALK WITH CIVILIAN AND MILITARY AIR CONTROLLERS

TO AVOID A MID-AIR COLLISION.

THE ONE THING ABOUT THE B-2

IS IT'S AN INTELLECTUALLY CHALLENGING AIRCRAFT.

COLONEL KRISTIN GOODWIN

IS VICE WING COMMANDER AT WHITEMAN.

SHE'S ALSO AN ACTIVE B-2 PILOT.

YOU'RE ALWAYS GETTING UPDATES,

YOU'RE ENSURING THAT YOUR SYSTEM IS ACCURATE,

YOU'RE MAKING SURE YOUR TIMING IS RIGHT,

YOU'RE USUALLY WORKING WITH ONE OR TWO OTHER AIRCRAFT

IN FORMATION.

IT IS A VERY BUSY TIME FROM TAKEOFF TO LANDING.

THERE'S NOT A LOT OF TIME TO SIT BACK.

AS THE THREE B-2s NEAR THE LIBYAN BORDER,

NATO CONFIRMS GADAFFI HAS NOT BACKED DOWN.

THE MISSION IS A GO.

TIME TO STEALTH UP.

IN THE TOP SECRET COCKPIT OF THE WORLD'S MOST EXPENSIVE AIRCRAFT

THERE IS A BUTTON LITTLE BIGGER THAN A LETTER ON YOUR KEYBOARD

AND MARKED WITH THE WORD PEN-- FOR PENETRATION.

THE PEN BUTTON RETRACTS PROTRUDING ANTENNAE

AND TUCKS NAVIGATION LIGHTS INTO DIAMOND SHAPED PANELS.

MUCH ELSE IS CLASSIFIED,

BUT IT'S KNOWN THAT THE SHAPE OF THE BOMBER

TAKES RADAR WAVES AND BENDS OR SCATTERS THEM.

HAVING NO TAIL SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCES THE RADAR SIGNATURE...

WHILE THE SAW-TOOTH PATTERN THAT REPLACES THE TAIL

ALSO DISPERSES ENGINE HEAT AND INFRARED SIGNATURES.

THE SPECIAL COATING OF THE PLANE

ABSORBS AND BREAKS UP RADAR WAVES,

AS DOES THE WINDSHIELD.

TO DO SO, IT'S TREATED WITH A THIN LAYER OF 24-CARAT GOLD.

A B-2 IN FULL STEALTH MODE

HAS THE RADAR SIGNATURE OF A SEAGULL...

A VERY QUIET ONE.

ONCE YOU GO INTO ENEMY TERRITORY,

YOU'RE REALLY NOT TALKING TO ANYBODY AT THAT POINT

BECAUSE YOU WANT TO MINIMIZE YOUR TRANSMISSIONS,

AND EVEN A RADIO TRANSMISSION IS AN EMISSION,

SO FOR A STEALTHY AIRPLANE, YOU DON'T WANT TO DO ANY OF THAT.

THE 150-TON B-2s WILL BE HARD TO DETECT OVER LIBYA,

BUT NOT INVISIBLE TO THE NAKED EYE.

THE MOON IS AT ITS BRIGHTEST, MAKING PILOTS NERVOUS.

ON THE GROUND IN LIBYA,

GADDAFI'S SOLDIERS STAND AT HIGH ALERT

WITH SA-5 GAMMON SURFACE-TO-AIR MISSILES

THAT CAN FIRE WITH ACCURACY TO AN ALTITUDE OF 65,000 FEET--

A SERIOUS THREAT.

12 HOURS AFTER LEAVING MISSOURI,

THE B-2s CROSS THE BORDER OF LIBYA

UNDER THE COVER OF DARKNESS.

ALREADY THEY'VE LOADED THEIR SATELLITE-GUIDED WEAPONS

WITH TARGET COORDINATES.

NOW IT'S GO TIME.

THE PRIMARY TARGET--GADDAFI'S AIR FIELDS AND HANGARS.

BUT SUDDENLY, THERE'S A PROBLEM.

IN ONE OF THE B-2s,

A ONE-TON BOMB JAMS IN THE ROTARY LAUNCHER.

IN OTHER TYPES OF AIRCRAFT THERE IS ACCESS TO THE BOMBS,

BUT NOT IN THE B-2.

THE PILOTS CAN'T SEE, BUT THEY KNOW.

THE SYSTEM IS VERY QUICK.

YOU KNOW INSTANTANEOUSLY IF YOU HAVE THE HUNG WEAPON

BECAUSE YOU CAN ACTUALLY WATCH THE DISPLAY

AND WATCH THE WEAPONS LEAVE THE PYLON ON YOUR DISPLAY.

SO IF ONE OF THEM DOESN'T,

YOU GET A BIG YELLOW HASH MARK THROUGH IT.

THEY ROTATE THE LAUNCHER TO DISCHARGE THE NEXT BOMB.

IT ALSO FAILS TO DISLODGE... AND THEN ANOTHER...

THREE ONE-TON BOMBS HOPELESSLY JAMMED.

TWO STEALTH BOMBERS UNLEASH THEIR FULL PAYLOAD OF BOMBS--

A DEVASTATING ASSAULT ON LIBYA'S AIR FORCES.

THEY DROP 16 ONE-TON BOMBS EACH,

ALL DEAD ON TARGET.

THE THIRD B-2-- NOT SO EFFECTIVE.

THREE BOMBS JAM IN THE LAUNCHER--

AND THERE'S NO FIX THIS FAR FROM HOME.

WHEN YOU FLY A BOMBER,

ONE OF THE THINGS YOU'RE ALWAYS CONCERNED ABOUT

IS A GETTING A HUNG ORDNANCE.

COLONEL TONY IMONDI

WAS ONE OF THE FIRST B-2 COMBAT PILOTS,

AND HE TRAINED MANY OTHERS.

YOU TRY TO DROP A BOMB, IT TRIES TO DROP,

FOR WHATEVER REASON IT GETS HUNG UP

AND IT'S STUCK IN YOUR WEAPONS BAY,

IT'S EITHER HANGING BY A WIRE OR IT DIDN'T FIRE.

SO YOU'RE NOT SURE EXACTLY WHAT THE PROBLEM IS.

WHEN PILOTS OPEN A B-2'S BOMB BAY DOORS,

THE AIRCRAFT IS MORE VISIBLE TO RADAR.

IF GADDAFI'S FIGHTER JETS LOCATE A B-2 AND SHOW UP TO ATTACK,

THAT B-2 HAS NO WAY OF DEFENDING ITSELF.

STEALTH IS THE ONLY ACE UP ITS SLEEVE.

THE PILOTS HAVE NO CHOICE.

THEY DROP ALL THEY CAN AND HIT 13 OF THEIR 16 TARGETS,

BUT MUST THEN HEAD FOR HOME-- THREE DODGY BOMBS STILL ABOARD.

YOU HAVE TO BE SAFE.

SO IN MOST CASES YOU KEEP THE WEAPONS BAY DOORS CLOSED,

AND IF YOU CAN, YOU WILL PUT THAT WEAPON IN A POSITION

WHERE IT CAN'T FALL OUT.

SO IF YOU HAPPEN TO HAVE A ROTARY LAUNCHER, PER SE,

YOU CAN ROTATE THE LAUNCHER AND PUT THE BOMB ON THE TOP.

GADDAFI'S SURFACE-TO-AIR MISSILES

DON'T COME CLOSE TO HITTING A B-2.

EVEN WITH ONE OF THE THREE PLANES COMPROMISED,

THE B-2s HOLD ENOUGH FIREPOWER

TO WIPE OUT ALL 45 OF GADDAFI'S HARDENED AIRCRAFT SHELTERS.

THE STEALTH BOMBER HAS KNOCKED DOWN THE DOOR IN LIBYA.

GADDAFI AND THE WORLD KNOW IT.

THE BOMBERS MAKE THEIR WAY HOME

AS PRESIDENT OBAMA MAKES IT OFFICIAL.

TODAY I AUTHORIZED

THE ARMED FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES

TO BEGIN A LIMITED MILITARY ACTION IN LIBYA...

THE STEALTH BOMBERS NEAR WHITEMAN

AFTER 24 HOURS OF NON-STOP FLYING.

THERE'S STILL NO TIME TO REST

FOR THE PILOTS CARRYING THE THREE JAMMED BOMBS.

THEIR AIRCRAFT GETS SPECIAL TREATMENT.

WHEN YOU LAND, YOU MUST TREAT THAT BOMB AS IF IT'S LIVE

AND AS IF IT'S GOING TO FALL OFF--

SO YOU DO SPECIAL PROCEDURES WHEN YOU LAND.

YOU GO TO A SPECIAL PLACE ON THE AIRFIELD,

THEY CALL OUT SPECIAL PEOPLE,

AND YOU JUST VERY CAREFULLY OPEN THE AIRPLANE UP INCH BY INCH

TO MAKE SURE THAT THE BOMB'S NOT RESTING

ON THE DOORS OR ANYTHING,

AND GOD FORBID YOU HAVE AN ACCIDENT,

YOU'RE FAR ENOUGH AWAY THAT YOU WOULDN'T HURT OTHER PEOPLE.

SEVEN MONTHS LATER A NATO AIRCRAFT

HITS GADAFFI'S CONVOY AS HE TRIES TO ESCAPE.

REBELS FIND HIM HIDING IN A DRAINAGE PIPE.

THE CONFLICT IS OVER.

LIBYA WAS THE B-2'S FOURTH COMBAT MISSION,

ALL OF THEM ORIGINATING FROM ONE PLACE--

WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE IN MISSOURI.

IT WAS DECEMBER 17, 1993, THAT A CROWD FIRST GATHERED HERE

TO GREET THE NATION'S MOST CLOSELY KEPT AVIATION SECRET.

172 FEET OF AIRCRAFT-- ALL WING, NO TAIL.

THE B-2 SPIRIT MADE A LASTING IMPRESSION.

I THINK EVERY FOUR-STAR GENERAL IN THE AIR FORCE

WAS ASSEMBLED AT THE AIRFIELD TO WATCH THE B-2 FLY IN.

THE SPIRIT OF MISSOURI IS HOME.

THE B-2 HAS REACHED THEIR FINAL PARKING POSITION

IN FRONT OF THE DAIS.

GENERAL LOWE HAS SHUT DOWN HER ENGINES,

AND NOW BEGINS THE CEREMONY OFFICIALLY WELCOMING THE PLANE.

ITS ARRIVAL REPRESENTS MORE THAN A TECHNICAL LEAP FORWARD.

IT ADDS A REVOLUTIONARY NEW DIMENSION TO AIR WARFARE.

WHEN I SAW IT IN FLIGHT,

I THOUGHT WOW, THIS THING IS SPECIAL.

IT REALLY, THE WORD "MAJESTIC" CAME TO MIND.

IT JUST HAS A PRESENCE OF POWER AND PRECISION,

AND I'LL TELL YOU WHAT,

IF YOU'RE ON THE END OF THE RUNWAY

AND YOU SEE THAT B-2 TAKE OFF,

YOU SAY I'M REALLY GLAD THAT IT'S ON OUR SIDE.

THE FIRST AMERICAN AIRCRAFT ANYTHING LIKE THE B-2

EMERGED IN THE 1940s WITH THE XB-35.

A BAT-WING SHAPE WAS DESIGNED TO CREATE MAXIMUM AIRLIFT

FOR LONG-RANGE BOMBING MISSIONS.

THE YB-49 FOLLOWED IT--

SAME SHAPE, MORE ADVANCED,

BUT STEALTH WAS STILL NOT A CONSIDERATION.

THAT CAME IN THE 1960s, WITH A FOCUS ON THE COLD WAR.

LOCKHEED BUILT THE SR-71 AND GAVE IT SOME STEALTH QUALITIES,

INCLUDING A SKIN WITH SPECIAL RADAR-ABSORBING MATERIALS.

THE SR-71 WAS A LONG-RANGE SPY PLANE,

BUT NOT A NUCLEAR WAR DETERRENT.

FOR THAT, THE UNITED STATES NEEDED A STEALTH BOMBER.

SO THE MISSION OF THE B-2 WAS TO USE STEALTH

TO PENETRATE THE BORDERS OF THE SOVIET UNION

AND FLY A LONG MISSION, DROP NUCLEAR BOMBS, AND RETURN.

REDUCING THE RADAR SIGNATURE

MEANT NO TAIL AND A CURVED DESIGN...

IDEAS AND INNOVATIONS THAT TOOK A LEAP FORWARD

WITH A PAPER PUBLISHED IN 1964

BY A MATHEMATICIAN ON THE OTHER SIDE.

STEALTH WAS ACTUALLY BASED ON SOME CALCULATIONS

DONE BY A RUSSIAN.

THEY WERE TRANSLATED AND READ BY A MAN AT LOCKHEED,

WHO REALIZED THAT YOU COULD USE THESE PRINCIPLES

TO CALCULATE A WAY TO REDUCE RADAR RETURN

AND FROM THOSE CALCULATIONS BUILD AN AIRCRAFT.

WEAPONS GIANT THE NORTHROP CORPORATION

COMBINED THE STEALTH DESIGN

WITH RADAR-ABSORBING PAINT AND MATERIALS.

THE STEALTH CODE WAS CRACKED.

THEY COULD MAKE A PLANE INVISIBLE TO RADAR,

BUT THEY COULDN'T HIDE THE PRICE TAG...

$2.13 BILLION PER PLANE--

AT THE TIME, THE SAME COST AS THIRTEEN 747 PASSENGER JETS.

WHY SO MUCH?

JUST OVER $1 BILLION PER PLANE FOR MATERIALS AND MANUFACTURE,

MAKING THE B-2 LITERALLY WORTH ITS WEIGHT IN GOLD.

THEN NORTHROP ALSO HAD TO SET UP A SPECIAL TOP-SECRET PLANT

TO BUILD THE PLANES,

AND BEFORE THAT THEY SPENT $20 BILLION

ON RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT.

THAT COST WAS TO BE SPREAD

OVER THE INITIAL ORDER OF 132 AIRCRAFT...

BUT ONLY 21 WERE EVER BUILT.

20 B-2s REMAIN.

THE 21st BECAME A CASE STUDY.

EVEN A $2 BILLION PLANE CAN HAVE A FATAL FLAW.

FEBRUARY 23, 2008.

THE SPIRIT OF KANSAS TAKES OFF

FROM THE U.S. AIR FORCE BASE IN GUAM,

THE END OF A FOUR-MONTH DEPLOYMENT.

THE JET PITCHES UP...

THEN STALLS.

THE PILOTS HAVE A SPLIT SECOND

TO WORK OUT IF THEY CAN SAVE THE PLANE.

THEN A WING HITS THE GROUND.

THEY REALIZE ALL IS LOST, AND THEY EJECT.

JUST 17 SECONDS AFTER TAKEOFF

THE B-2 CRASHES AND BURSTS INTO FLAMES.

THE CULPRIT--WATER.

GUAM'S HUMIDITY CAUSES SPEED SENSORS TO MALFUNCTION.

THEY TELL THE SYSTEM IT'S GOING 14 MILES AN HOUR FASTER

THAN ITS ACTUAL ACCELERATION.

THE ONBOARD COMPUTER COMMANDS FULL NOSE UP.

BUT WITHOUT ENOUGH SPEED

TO SUPPORT THEIR HIGH-PITCHED TAKEOFF,

THEY LOSE LIFT AND CRASH.

ONE GOOD THING ABOUT THE GUAM CRASH

WAS IT TURNED OUT TO HAVE A VERY CLEAR ANSWER.

IT WAS A PRETTY EASY ITEM TO FIX ON THE MAINTENANCE CHECKLIST.

OTHER B-2 PILOTS FIND GREAT COMFORT

IN THE SAFE EJECTION OF THEIR COLLEAGUES.

YOU DON'T KNOW TILL YOU FIRST USE THE SEAT

IF IT'S GOING TO WORK,

AND THE SEATS WORKED AND THEY WERE ALIVE

TO TELL US WHAT HAPPENED TO THAT B-2.

SIMILAR FOR THE PLANE ITSELF--

WOULD IT WORK IN COMBAT?

SOME WONDERED IF THE B-2 WOULD EVER BE TESTED.

AFTER FIRST DELIVERY TO WHITEMAN,

THE B-2s SAT AT THE READY FOR SIX LONG YEARS.

WITH THE COLD WAR OVER, THEY LANGUISHED.

THEN THE STEALTH BOMBER FINALLY GOT ITS CHANCE--

NOT IN RUSSIA OR THE MIDDLE EAST,

BUT IN YUGOSLAVIA.

WE WOULD HAVE NEVER PICKED YUGOSLAVIA

AS THE PLACE WHERE WE THOUGHT

THE B-2 WOULD CUT ITS TEETH, ITS COMBAT TEETH,

BUT THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED.

JANUARY 1999.

SERBIAN SECURITY FORCES EXECUTE 45 KOSOVO ALBANIANS.

IT'S THE LATEST WAVE OF VIOLENCE

IN WHAT BECOMES KNOWN GLOBALLY AS ETHNIC CLEANSING.

THIS IS A HUMANITARIAN CATASTROPHE

THAT WE HAVE TO AVOID.

THERE ARE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE THAT WILL DIE

OR BE DRIVEN FROM THEIR HOMES.

SERBIAN LEADER SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC

AMASSES HIS FORCES ON THE KOSOVO BORDER.

FIGHTING ESCALATES.

THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA IS IN FULL-ON DISINTEGRATION.

THIS BRINGS ON THE KOSOVO CRISIS,

AND NATO DECIDES FOR THE FIRST TIME IN ITS HISTORY

TO GO TO WAR.

PRESIDENT CLINTON

CALLS ON WHITEMAN'S B-2 COMMANDERS.

AFTER A DECADE OF NOTHING BUT PRACTICE RUNS,

THE STEALTH BOMBERS FINALLY HAVE THE CHANCE

TO SHOW WHAT THEY CAN DO.

WHEN THE CALL CAME,

WE WERE MORE THAN READY, WE WERE ANXIOUS.

IT FALLS ON COLONEL TONY IMONDI TO PICK THE AIRMEN.

NO ONE HAS EVER FLOWN THE B-2 IN COMBAT.

ALL 50 PILOTS WANT THE CHANCE.

TONY MUST CHOOSE FOUR.

IT WAS THE QUIET, COMPETENT AVIATOR

THAT WE WERE LOOKING FOR,

ONE WHO WASN'T LOOKING TO COLLECT MEDALS AND TROPHIES

FOR HIS TROPHY CASE,

BUT YET WORK SILENTLY AND DILIGENTLY--

WITH A TEAM MEMBER, THERE ARE TWO PILOTS IN A B-2--

TO GET THE JOB DONE.

ONE OF THEM IS ERIC SINGLE.

A VERY HUGE RESPONSIBILITY.

YOU KNEW THE AIRPLANE, YOU KNEW THE MISSION,

BUT IT HAD NEVER BEEN TESTED.

SO YOU HAD A LOT OF UNKNOWNS OUT THERE.

ALSO SET TO MAKE ITS COMBAT DEBUT IN KOSOVO--

THE JDAM.

A JDAM IS A BOEING-BUILT ATTACHMENT

THAT CONVERTS ANY NUMBER OF FREE-FALLING BOMBS

INTO PRECISION-GUIDED WEAPONS.

BOMB LOADERS STRAP ON THE MOVABLE TAIL FINS

AND THE GPS GUIDANCE SYSTEMS.

THE B-2 CAN CARRY 16 2,000-POUND JDAM BOMBS,

OR AS MANY AS 80 500-POUND JDAMs.

WE WERE TRAINING WITH THE JDAM WEAPON

IN OUR WEAPON SYSTEM,

BUT LIKE MOST TRAINING DAYS,

WE DON'T GO OUT AND DROP A LOT OF WEAPONS IN TRAINING

BECAUSE THEY'RE EXPENSIVE AND WE JUST CAN'T AFFORD TO.

SO THERE WAS SOME QUESTION IN MY MIND

HOW THE JDAM WAS GOING TO PERFORM

IN ITS FIRST COMBAT VENTURE, AS WELL AS THE B-2.

NO MORE DRILLS.

IT'S A LIVE RUN.

MARCH 23, 1999.

FOUR PILOTS IN TWO B-2 BOMBERS TAKE OFF FOR KOSOVO.

FOR THEIR FIRST COMBAT MISSION-- A 30-HOUR RETURN TRIP.

AS THEY REACH THE MEDITERRANEAN

THEY APPEAR ON RADAR AS REGULAR AIRCRAFT.

AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL KEPT TELLING US,

"HEY, HOW FAR ARE YOU GOING UP HERE,

DON'T YOU KNOW THAT'S ALL RESTRICTED AIRSPACE UP THERE?"

AND EVENTUALLY WE JUST HAD TO TURN THEM OFF

BECAUSE THEY KEPT ASKING QUESTIONS WE COULDN'T ANSWER

ABOUT WHO WE WERE AND WHERE WE WERE GOING,

AND THAT TYPE OF THING.

THE TWO B-2s ENTER STEALTH MODE.

PILOTS ALSO SWITCH OFF

ALL UNNECESSARY LIGHTS ON THE FLIGHT DECK

AND CLIMB TO AN ALTITUDE THAT REDUCES THEIR CONTRAILS.

A COMPUTER DISPLAYS THE BEST STRATEGY.

IT SHOWS UP ON SCREEN AS A BLUE LINE.

THE BLUE LINE IS THE COURSE THE B-2 PILOTS CHOOSE

IN ORDER TO MAXIMIZE THE STEALTH PROPERTIES OF THEIR AIRCRAFT

AND ELUDE MOST OF THE THREATS FROM SURFACE-TO-AIR MISSILES

OR FROM ENEMY FIGHTERS.

IT USES EVERYTHING THE B-2 HAS--

STEALTH, SPEED, ALTITUDE, HEADING--

IN ORDER TO MAXIMIZE ITS CHANCE OF SUCCEEDING ON THE MISSION.

THE REAL QUESTION WAS

WOULD THE ENEMY BE ABLE TO SEE US,

WOULD THEY SEND FIGHTERS UP TO JOIN ON US,

WOULD THEY TRY TO ENGAGE WITH US,

OR WOULD ALL THE MONEY WE INVESTED IN THIS AIRPLANE

FINALLY PAY OFF?

THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA HAS PRETTY FORMIDABLE AIR DEFENSES,

THEY HAVE AN AIR FORCE OF ABOUT 90 AIRCRAFT,

THEY HAVE MODERN SURFACE-TO-AIR MISSILES,

THEY HAVE ALREADY GIVEN NATO PILOTS

AN OCCASIONAL RUN FOR THEIR MONEY OVER THIS AIR SPACE.

YOU'RE OVER ENEMY TERRITORY

FOR A GOOD HOUR, HOUR AND A HALF.

YOUR EYES ARE GLUED THERE TO MAKE SURE THAT NOBODY

IS TRACKING YOU OR EVEN SEEING YOU OUT THERE.

IT'S A COLD SPRING NIGHT OVER KOSOVO.

14 HOURS INTO THEIR FLIGHT

PILOTS CONFIRM THE MISSION IS A GO.

THE AIRCRAFT SHUDDER AS THEY DISCHARGE FIVE BOMBS

FROM TWIN ROTARY PYLONS.

THE B-2'S GUIDED BOMBS STRIKE SERBIAN AIRFIELDS.

32 DIRECT HITS.

THE SERBS SCRAMBLE A DOZEN MIG-29s.

THE ENEMY FIGHTERS SCAN THE NIGHT SKY FOR THE B-2s.

IT'S TENSE AND DANGEROUS.

WE DID HEAR, YOU KNOW, THAT THE FIGHTERS WERE AIRBORNE.

THAT KIND OF GIVES YOU PAUSE.

NATO SENDS UP FIGHTER JETS FOR ADDED PROTECTION,

BUT THE B-2s FOLLOW THEIR BLUE LINES OUT OF CONFLICT--

NO SIGN OF DETECTION.

NIGHT ONE-- TRIUMPH AND RELIEF.

WHEN THEY RETURN TO WHITEMAN,

SENIOR MASTER SERGEANT CRAIG SMITH WAS THERE.

WHEN WE GET THE CALL

TO FIND OUT THAT IT DID ITS MISSION

AND WHAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING TOWARDS FOR SIX YEARS

AND NOT REALLY KNOWING IF IT WAS GOING TO WORK IN COMBAT

AND TO FINALLY HEAR THEM SAY

THAT AIRCRAFT HAS PERFORMED ITS MISSION

AND RETURNING TO WHITEMAN

WAS A SENSE OF SUCCESS AND PRIDE AT THE SAME TIME.

BUT IT'S FAR FROM OVER.

WHITEMAN EXPECTED THE B-2s TO BE USED

FOR THE FIRST THREE DAYS OF THE WAR ONLY.

INSTEAD, NATO COMMANDERS CALL ON THE BOMBERS AGAIN AND AGAIN.

THE OBJECTIVE WAS JUST TO FLY FOR THREE NIGHTS,

HIT HARD, AND CONVINCE MILOSEVIC

TO GIVE UP HIS PERSECUTION OF THE ETHNIC ALBANIANS.

WHAT HAPPENED IN FACT

WAS THAT NATO ENDED UP RUNNING A 78-DAY AIR WAR.

THEY DEPLOYED MORE AIRCRAFT,

THEY DUG IN AND THEY DECIDED TO FIGHT IT OUT.

THE WEATHER IN YUGOSLAVIA WAS BAD,

AND THE B-2 WAS THE ONLY WEAPON SYSTEM THAT HAD THE JDAM,

SO FOR 78 DAYS THAT WAR CONTINUED

AND WE CONTINUED TO FLY B-2 SORTIES IN SUPPORT OF THAT WAR.

THE DEMAND STRAINS RESOURCES,

BUT THE RESULTS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES--

EIGHT OUT OF TEN TARGETS HIT ON THE FIRST PASS.

IN THE FIRST EIGHT WEEKS OF COMBAT,

THE B-2s ONLY FLY 3% OF THE COMBAT SORTIES

BUT STRIKE 33% OF ALL TARGETS.

KOSOVO REALLY PROVED THAT THE NAYSAYERS WERE WRONG

ABOUT THE B-2.

THE COMBINATION OF STEALTH AND PRECISION

WAS EVERYTHING THAT THE ADVOCATES OF THE B-2

HAD EVER HOPED FOR AND MORE.

IT'S AN A-PLUS REPORT CARD...

UNTIL A DEVASTATING MISHAP.

IN THE MIDDLE

OF THE THREE-MONTH-LONG KOSOVO CONFLICT,

FIVE BOMBS FROM A B-2 HIT THE CHINESE EMBASSY IN BELGRADE.

THREE CHINESE JOURNALISTS LAY DEAD--

27 OTHERS INJURED.

IT'S AN INTERNATIONAL DISASTER

THAT THREATENS PEACEKEEPING EFFORTS

AND BRINGS THE B-2 UNDER DIPLOMATIC FIRE.

THE U.S. AIR FORCE IMMEDIATELY LAUNCHES AN INVESTIGATION.

IN WASHINGTON, THEY EXONERATE THE B-2 AND BLAME THE C.I.A.,

WHO PROVIDED THE COORDINATES.

THE ATTACK WAS A MISTAKE.

I FIND IT EMBARRASSING THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE IN OUR DATABASES

THE PRECISE LOCATION OF THE CHINESE EMBASSY.

THE BOMBING OF THE CHINESE EMBASSY

WAS A HUGE CONTROVERSY,

BUT A BLACK EYE PERHAPS MORE FOR THE INTELLIGENCE SYSTEM OVERALL

THAN FOR THE B-2 ITSELF.

IN A STRANGE WAY, IT PROVED EVERYTHING WE HAD ALREADY SEEN

WITH THE B-2.

IT WAS DEVASTATINGLY ACCURATE.

ON JUNE 10, 1999,

THE WAR IN KOSOVO ENDS

WHEN SERBIA FINALLY AGREES TO A PEACE DEAL.

NATO USED NO GROUND FORCES AT ALL

BUT RELIED ENTIRELY ON AIR POWER.

THE B-2'S DEBUT ROLE WAS CRUCIAL.

PRESIDENT CLINTON VISITS WHITEMAN FOR THE CELEBRATION.

MOST AMERICANS WILL NEVER KNOW

HOW HARD THIS WAS OR HOW HARD OUR FORCES WORKED;

THE PILOTS, THE CREWS,

THE PEOPLE THAT MAKE IT HAPPEN ON THE GROUND.

BUT I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT WE ARE VERY PROUD OF YOU.

KOSOVO WAS THE B-2'S SHAKEDOWN CONFLICT,

AND ITS OPERATORS LEARNED IMPORTANT LESSONS.

EACH SORTIE TO KOSOVO AND BACK MEANT SOME 30 HOURS IN THE AIR.

THE PILOTS ARE SUPPOSED TO TAKE TURNS SLEEPING,

BUT ADRENALINE MAKES THAT TOUGH.

SOME GUYS COULDN'T SLEEP,

TOO KEYED UP ON THE MISSIONS, YOU KNOW, THEY CAME BACK, SAID,

"NAH, I WAS AWAKE THE WHOLE DARN TIME."

PART OF THE PROBLEM--

THIS WAS A PLANE BUILT FOR STEALTH, NOT COMFORT,

ESPECIALLY FOR MISSIONS 20 OR 40 HOURS LONG.

THE ENGINEERS, WHEN THEY BUILT THE AIRCRAFT,

THEY DIDN'T PUT A LOT OF THOUGHT

INTO THE HUMAN DYNAMICS OF FLYING LONG DURATIONS.

THEY PUT ALL THEIR ENERGY INTO THE STEALTHINESS OF THE PLANE

AND ITS CAPABILITIES.

IT'S NOT ABOUT COMFORT.

THE ONLY SPACE TO LIE DOWN

IS ON A HARD FLOOR BY THE TOILET.

ERIC SINGLE IMPROVISES.

HE FITS HIS $2.1 BILLION AIRCRAFT

WITH A FOLDING LAWN CHAIR--

PRICE TAG, $8.88.

I GOT A LOT OF FUNNY LOOKS

THE FIRST TIME WE BROUGHT IT OUT THERE

UNTIL A COUPLE OTHER PEOPLE TRIED USING IT,

AND THEY SAID, "THIS IS WONDERFUL.

THIS BEATS THE HECK OUT OF LAYING ON THE FLOOR."

THE PLANE ITSELF MUST ALSO ADAPT

TO STAY AHEAD OF COUNTERMEASURES.

IT'S UPDATED WITH NEW SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS

AND OTHER ADVANCES IN TECHNOLOGY.

THESE ARE READY TO GO IN 2001

WHEN AMERICA FACES HER DARKEST HOUR SINCE PEARL HARBOR.

SEPTEMBER 11, 2001.

TERRORISTS ATTACK ON U.S. SOIL.

THE B-2 BECOMES A CRITICAL PART OF THE MILITARY RESPONSE.

MAKE NO MISTAKE.

THE UNITED STATES WILL HUNT DOWN AND PUNISH

THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR THESE COWARDLY ACTS.

AL QAEDA IN AFGHANISTAN

SITS CLEARLY IN AMERICA'S CROSSHAIRS--

BUT THE SHEER DISTANCE

REPRESENTS THE GREATEST CHALLENGE YET

FOR THE B-2 AND ITS CREW.

COMMANDERS DEPLOY SIX STEALTH BOMBERS

FOR A THREE-DAY CAMPAIGN.

FROM WHITEMAN TO AFGHANISTAN AND BACK

BECOMES THE LONGEST NON-STOP BOMBING MISSION IN HISTORY--

MORE THAN 44 HOURS OF CONTINUOUS FLIGHT.

THE B-2'S RANGE IS ONLY 6,000 MILES--

LESS THAN A 747 PASSENGER JET.

TO ANSWER THE CALL IN SUCH A FARAWAY PLACE,

THE B-2 MUST RELY MORE THAN EVER ON PARTNERS IN THE SKY--

MIDAIR REFUELING TANKERS.

IT'S ONE OF THE TOUGHER PARTS OF FLYING THE B-2

BECAUSE YOU'RE FLYING SO CLOSE TO ANOTHER LARGE AIRPLANE.

ON THE WAY TO AFGHANISTAN,

BOTH PILOTS MUST TAKE THEIR SEATS

EACH TIME THEY ALIGN WITH A TANKER.

YOU HAVE TO BE VERY PRECISE

ABOUT WHERE YOU PLACE YOUR AIRPLANE.

THE BOOM ON A TANKER IS STEERABLE BY THE BOOM OPERATOR,

BUT IT'S ONLY STEERABLE WITHIN ABOUT A 20-FOOT BOX.

A WRONG MOVE FROM EITHER AIRCRAFT

COULD BE DISASTROUS.

A LOT OF GUYS GET WHAT WE CALL THE TEN-MINUTE WANDERS.

YOU SOMETIMES LOSE CONCENTRATION,

LOSE FOCUS ON THAT,

AND YOU'LL FIND YOURSELF ALL OF A SUDDEN

WANDERING OFF YOUR VISUAL CUES THERE AND HAVING TO GET BACK ON.

THE B-2s MID-AIR REFUEL AS MANY AS FIVE TIMES

JUST TO GET TO AFGHANISTAN--

BUT ONCE THERE, THEY KNOCK DOWN THE DOORS.

THE TARGETS ARE FEW AND POORLY DEFENDED.

AS EXPECTED, THEIR MISSION IS OVER IN JUST THREE DAYS.

BUT THERE'S NOT LONG TO WAIT

BEFORE THE B-2 IS TAPPED FOR ANOTHER COMBAT ZONE--

ONE FAR MORE DANGEROUS.

OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM, OR GULF WAR II,

BEGAN IN MARCH OF 2003.

IT WAS VERY DIFFERENT FROM THE OPERATIONS IN AFGHANISTAN

BECAUSE SADDAM HUSSEIN HAD A MAJOR ARMY,

A SIGNIFICANT AIR FORCE, AND DENSE SURFACE-TO-AIR MISSILES.

EVEN THOUGH THE COALITION

HAD BEEN FLYING OVER THE NO-FLY ZONES

AND PICKING AWAY AT THESE AIR DEFENSES,

IRAQ AND BAGHDAD ESPECIALLY

WAS STILL A VERY HEAVILY DEFENDED TARGET.

AT WHITEMAN THERE'S AN IMPENDING SENSE

THAT SOMETHING IS GOING TO HAPPEN.

PILOTS FINE TUNE THEIR FLIGHT EQUIPMENT AND SURVIVAL GEAR.

EVERYTHING FEELS GOOD?

YEAH, THIS FEELS GOOD.

KOSOVO AND AFGHANISTAN

TAUGHT THE SQUADRON A GREAT DEAL ABOUT COMFORT.

COME INTO OUR MAIN SHOP,

THIS IS OUR MAIN WORK AREA,

THIS IS WHERE WE DO ALL THE EQUIPMENT AT.

WE WORK ON HELMETS, HARNESSES, PARACHUTES.

YOU NAME IT, WE HAVE IT.

SERGEANT DENNIS SPEICHER RUNS THE LIFE SUPPORT ROOM.

WHAT THEY WOULD DO IS THEY WOULD COME

AND WE WOULD HAVE TO ISSUE OUT A LONG-DURATION BAG.

THIS IS STRICTLY ANOTHER SLEEPING COT

THAT WE'RE LOOKING INTO--

IT'S LIGHTWEIGHT, REALLY QUICK AND EASY...

URINARY BAGS IF THEY NEED 'EM.

WE CALLED 'EM PIDDLE PACKS,

BASICALLY IF THEY NEED TO GO PEE.

IF THEY NEED TO RELIEVE THEMSELVES,

THEY USE A BAG FOR THAT.

THEY TAKE OFF,

HIT THE IDEAL CRUISING ALTITUDE OF 50,000 FEET, AND SETTLE IN.

THEIR TARGETS SIT 19 HOURS AWAY IN IRAQ.

AS THEY DRAW CLOSE, THEY ARM THEIR BOMBS

AND MOVE TO COMBAT ALTITUDE-- A CLASSIFIED HEIGHT.

THEY STEALTH UP, CHARGE IN, AND DROP THEIR BOMBS.

THIS IS THE FIRST NIGHT OF WHAT BECOMES KNOWN AS SHOCK AND AWE,

AND THE B-2 DELIVERS BOTH.

SPECIFIC B-2 TARGETS REMAIN CLASSIFIED,

BUT BOMBS HAMMER THE COUNCIL OF MINISTRIES BUILDING,

AND THE WHOLE WORLD GETS AN UPFRONT LOOK

AT AMERICAN FIREPOWER.

THE B-2 BOMB RAIDS DECIMATE SADDAM'S AIR FORCE,

BUT HIS GROUND FORCES REMAIN FORMIDABLE.

AND A WEEK INTO THE WAR, HE CATCHES A BREAK.

A MASSIVE SANDSTORM

ENGULFS ALLIED GROUND FORCES FIGHTING TOWARD BAGHDAD.

SADDAM HUSSEIN SAW THIS SANDSTORM

AS PERHAPS HIS LAST BIG CHANCE.

HE THOUGHT THAT AS THE GROUND FORCES STOPPED

HE COULD START TO USE THE IRREGULAR FORCES

TO ATTACK THE REAR AREAS AND THESE STRUNG-OUT LINES.

AMERICAN SOLDIERS HUNKER DOWN.

THEY'RE VULNERABLE TO ATTACK.

IN IRAQ, U.S. COMMANDERS DECIDE TO EXPERIMENT.

COULD A LONE B-2 ATTACK SADDAM HUSSEIN'S FORCES

THROUGH A BLIZZARD OF SAND?

SADDAM HUSSEIN THOUGHT

THAT NOTHING COULD FLY DURING THE SANDSTORM

AND THAT HIS ELITE REPUBLICAN GUARD'S ARMORED FORCES

WOULD BE SAFE.

BUT A B-2 CAN SEE WHERE OTHERS CANNOT.

A B-2 WAS USED TO FLY DURING THE STORM,

TO USE ITS SYNTHETIC APERTURE RADAR

AND CHECK FOR REVETTED TANKS AND HEAVY ARMOR

IN ONE OF THE KEY REPUBLICAN GUARD'S DIVISIONS

GUARDING BAGHDAD.

SYNTHETIC APERTURE RADAR

USES THE MOVEMENT OF THE AIRCRAFT

TO COLLECT INFORMATION FROM MULTIPLE POINTS

AND CREATE AN IMAGE OF A TARGET.

A B-2 MOVES IN AND FLIES HIGH ABOVE THE SANDSTORM.

ITS RADAR SEES THROUGH THE SAND

TO TANKS AND CONTROL STATIONS ON THE GROUND.

THE PILOTS IDENTIFY 16 TARGETS

AND BOMB EACH ONE WITH LETHAL PRECISION.

THEY BLOW THE IRAQI ARMY TO SMITHEREENS,

AND WITH IT, SADDAM'S LAST HOPE.

THE SECRET SCIENCE BEHIND THE STEALTH BOMBER

REMAINS THE ENVY OF THE WORLD.

EVEN AFTER 20 YEARS OF SERVICE, THE B-2 IS STILL ONE OF A KIND.

FOR THE MOST PART,

THE SECRETS OF THE B-2 STEALTH TECHNOLOGY

HAVE BEEN VERY WELL KEPT.

WE KNOW QUITE A BIT ABOUT IT,

AND YET THE REAL SECRET SAUCE THAT KEEPS THE B-2 FLYING,

GIVES IT THE TACTICAL EDGE,

REMAINS RIGHT WHERE IT SHOULD, IN THE SECRET REALM.

AMERICA TAPS THE B-2'S ICONIC STATUS

DETERRENCE.

THE SPIRIT OF MISSOURI WAS ONE OF TWO B-2s

THAT FLEW TO SOUTH KOREA IN MARCH 2013.

THIS WAS A NOT-SO-STEALTHY EXERCISE

TO TEMPER NORTH KOREA'S WARMONGERING.

THE B-2 IS VIEWED AS THE MAN OF STEEL

OF AMERICAN AIR POWER.

YOU SEND THE B-2 ON A MISSION,

AND IT GETS EVERYONE'S ATTENTION.

THIS IS A FORMIDABLE WEAPON.

IT CAN CARRY NUCLEAR WEAPONS,

IT CAN CARRY CONVENTIONAL WEAPONS,

AND IT, PERHAPS MORE THAN ANY OTHER SINGLE AIRCRAFT,

SYMBOLIZES THE MIGHT AND THE RESOLVE

AND THE COMMITMENT TO DETERRENCE

THAT THE U.S. HAS IN THE PACIFIC.

IRAN KNOWS AS WELL--

THE B-2 IS A STEALTH AIRCRAFT

CAPABLE OF CARRYING THE 15-TON MASSIVE ORDNANCE PENETRATOR,

OR M.O.P.

THESE BOMBS CAN KNOCK OUT INSTALLATIONS

BURIED DEEP UNDERGROUND.

HER STEALTH SILENCED HER CRITICS.

THROUGH 20 YEARS OF TRIALS AND TRIUMPHS,

THE B-2 HAS MANAGED TO STAY AHEAD OF AMERICA'S ENEMIES--

LEARNING FROM EACH NEW CONFLICT, ADAPTING AND UPGRADING.

BUT FOR HOW MUCH LONGER?

THE B-2 IS PROGRAMMED TO REMAIN IN SERVICE

UNTIL 2045 OR BEYOND--

BUT LET ME TELL YOU, THAT IS ONE RUGGED AIRFRAME,

AND AS WE ARE FINDING WITH THE B-52,

IT'S CAPABLE OF FLYING

MUCH, MUCH, MUCH LONGER THAN WE THOUGHT.

I WOULD NOT NECESSARILY EXPECT THE B-2

TO RETIRE IN MY LIFETIME.

I THINK THE B-2 STANDS ALONE

AS THE MOST UNIQUE AIRPLANE EVER BUILT IN THIS COUNTRY.

IT ALSO CHANGED THE DESIGN OF AIRPLANES FOR THE FUTURE.

IT'S THE PAYLOAD, IT'S THE RANGE,

IT'S THE STEALTHINESS.

IT'S ALL OF THAT BALANCED TOGETHER

WITH ALL THE MODIFICATIONS AND UPGRADES

THAT WILL KEEP IT FORMIDABLE FOR YEARS AND YEARS TO COME.

THE B-2 INSPIRED

NEW-GENERATION STEALTH HELICOPTERS

THAT WERE REPORTEDLY USED IN THE RAID

THAT GOT OSAMA BIN LADEN.

THE STEALTH BOMBER ALSO BLAZED THE TRAIL

FOR STEALTHY UNMANNED AIRCRAFT.

THEY FLY WITHOUT RISKING THE LIVES OF PILOTS

AT JUST A FRACTION OF THE COST OF A B-2.

WHILE THE FUTURE IS UNCERTAIN...

STEALTH WILL MOST DEFINITELY BE A PART OF IT.

AND THE AIRPLANE THAT SET THE STANDARD

WAS THE B-2 SPIRIT--

STILL, THE WORLD'S ONE AND ONLY STEALTH BOMBER.