Latest news with #B-2s
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Report: Landing Gear Mishap Caused B-2 Bomber to Crash, Catch on Fire in 2022 Incident
An Air Force B-2 Spirit crash at Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri, in 2022 that caused upward of $300 million worth of damage was due to a landing gear issue, a new accident investigation details. The B-2 stealth bomber, call sign DEATH 12, attempted to land on Dec. 10, 2022, after a training mission and experienced a hydraulic system failure when trying to land, resulting in the bomber skidding more than 9,000 feet down a runway before it burst into flames. Once the crew touched down, the left landing gear "collapsed immediately," causing the left wing tip to scrape the ground and eventually the fuel tanks to leak and catch fire, the report from Air Force Global Strike Command, released this week, detailed. No injuries were reported to the crew. "Following the incident, AFGSC temporarily suspended B-2A flights to inspect the fleet," a news release from the command said, clarifying that it still maintained the ability to deploy B-2s if needed. "Full flight operations resumed on May 22, 2023." Read Next: VA to End Bargaining Agreement Contracts with Most Unions The July report finally details the circumstances behind the high-profile 2022 crash of the B-2 at the Missouri base that led to the closure of the runway for nearly two weeks and limited the stealth bomber's full flight operations for more than five months. previously reported that it took 11 days for the runway to reopen for A-10 Thunderbolt II and T-38 Talon flying operations at Whiteman. The B-2s were temporarily grounded for a safety investigation in the wake of the crash. B-2 bombers had been set to fly out for the 2023 Rose Bowl Parade and Game on Jan. 2, but were replaced by B-1B Lancers as a result of the incident. More than $300 million worth of damage was estimated to the crashed plane's left wing and left landing gear, as well as $27,500 worth of damage to the airfield, the report detailed. The Accident Investigation Board President, Col. Jesse Lamarand, determined that "the mishap was caused by a failure of a truck position sequence valve hydraulic coupling," according to a news release that included the report. Additionally, Lamarand said in the report that a design vulnerability with the main landing gear allowed the lock link assembly to move out of the locked position during the emergency gear extension. The report also identified a delay in using aqueous film forming foam, or AFFF, to fight the fire as another cause of the extensive damage. "The incident commander's decision to not immediately use aqueous film forming foam (AFFF) allowed the fire to spread, causing further damage to the aircraft wing," the report detailed. AFFF was not authorized to be used for "approximately the first three minutes and 28 seconds of the fire attack because of a misunderstanding that AFFF should be used only as a last resort," the report added. Aqueous film forming foam has been slowly phased out by several of the military services, including the Air Force, due to it containing PFAS, a group of substances known as forever chemicals because of their resistance to breaking down in the environment and human body. Related: Air Force Finally Clears Crashed B-2 from Runway Amid Ongoing Safety Investigation
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
B-2 Bombed A Smiley Face Into The Ground Because It Ran Out Of Targets
A B-2 bomber left a smiley face made out of bomb craters on the 'runway' of a mock airfield during a test some two decades ago. This happened after personnel at the sprawling Utah Test and Training Range (UTTR) had run out of shipping containers to turn into targets that a B-2 would hit during a single attack run. It's a reminder of just how much precision destruction America's upgraded stealth bombers can dole out in one pass. Air Force Maj. Gen. Jason Armagost, who was part of the crew that flew the test mission, mentioned the smiley face during an online talk that the Air & Space Forces Association's Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies hosted yesterday. Armagost, who is now commander of the Eighth Air Force, to which the Air Force's current B-2s, B-1s, and B-52s are all assigned, used the anecdote to highlight the unique capabilities offered by heavy bombers. 'I happened to fly an operational test mission where we tested the carriage of 80 500-pound JDAM [Joint Direct Attack Munition precision guided bombs] and released them all in a span of a little over 20 seconds on an airfield in the UTTR,' Armagost said. 'I mean, that's an amazing sight to behold, such that we even ran out of CONEX boxes to strike, and so [we] drew a smiley face across the runway with JDAMs.' Armagost said that this flight occurred in 2004, but this appears to be in error. The rest of his description aligns completely with a widely publicized test that occurred on September 10, 2003. The specifics of the event are detailed in the video below, which makes no mention of drawing the smiley face. The faux airfield constructed on the UTTR for the September 2003 test was just under a mile long. In addition to two mock runways, one graded and one just a desert strip, it included nine distinct simulated target areas. These were designed to represent an aircraft revetment, a helicopter landing pad, a control tower, a vehicle park, a generic structure, a hangar, an SA-6 surface-to-air missile system site, a fuel storage site, and a Scud ballistic missile launch site. The mock revetment, control tower, generic structure, and hangar were all made using arrays of shipping containers. The B-2 bomber, flying at an altitude of some 40,000 feet, released all 80 JDAMs in a single pass. The GPS-assisted guidance packages in the tail fin sections in each of the bombs were programmed to hit a separate aim point, and all of the impacts occurred within a span of approximately 22 seconds. The JDAM was still a relatively new weapon at the time, and the B-2 used in the test had to be specially modified with new 'smart' bomb racks to be able to drop the bombs. There were also safety concerns about dropping that many bombs from a B-2 in such rapid succession, and 11 other test flights were conducted to gather key data before the final 80-bomb pass on the mock airfield. Today, JDAMs, which consist of one of a number of low-drag bomb bodies combined with a new tail section that contains the guidance system, as well as clamp-on aerodynamic strakes, are among the most widely used air-to-ground munitions in the U.S. military. In addition to 500-pound-class types, there are also 1,000 and 2,000-pound-class versions. The Air Force had certainly demonstrated the B-2's ability to drop large numbers of bombs, in general, before the September 2003 test. The service has continued to show off the B-2's capabilities in this regard in training and testing, as well as real-world operations, since 2003, as well. As mentioned, during yesterday's talk, Maj. Gen. Armagost used the 80 JDAM test to highlight the immense and unique capabilities that heavy bombers offer. The B-2, with its maximum payload capacity of around 60,000 pounds, has especially cavernous bomb bays. It is notably the only aircraft currently certified to operationally employ the 30,000-pound GBU-57/B Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) bunker buster bomb, the heaviest conventional munition in U.S. service today. It can carry two MOPs in its internal weapons bays. The MOP has now become a household name after the bombs were dropped on real targets for the first time during the Operation Midnight Hammer strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities in June. Armagost's remarks yesterday about the 80 JDAM test came in response to a question about what he would want fellow airmen to better understand about the differences between what fighters and bombers bring to the fight. 'Bombers are an order of magnitude difference [from fighters] in what you can do with them,' he also said. 'Now, they nest incredibly well together, right? We see that with our partners and allies, who … fly fighters as their power projection capability. But when we nest them together with bombers, it is a completely different animal.' The United States is currently alone in the West as an operator of bombers. It is a small club overall, with Russia and China being the only other countries that do so anywhere else globally. 'I'll reflect back to that, that B-2 example of 80 500-pound JDAMs in a matter of a little over 20 seconds, and that was one aircraft,' Armagost said later on in yesterday's talk. 'It's like the example we used to give of World War II attacks requiring massive formations with high numbers of people at risk to get a single target. And then, as we transition through the precision capability, kind of revolution, and then evolution, you get down to single aircraft with single targets. And then the B-2 with multiple targets per aircraft. And, so, most simply, the cost, the strike efficiency, and the cost per kill comes down to: it matters how big your weapons bay is.' Now it also 'matters what access you have bought with the platform or with the weapons, in the case of hypersonics from range, or a penetrating force bringing large numbers inside of denied airspace,' the Eighth Air Force commander added. The ability of a single B-2 to destroy, or at least inflict severe damage, on a large facility like an airfield with pinpoint accuracy on a single pass, even when flying miles from the target, remains a significant capability, although one that is waning with the advent of ever more advanced integrated air defense systems. Regardless, this unprecedented ability is something TWZ has highlighted in the past when talking about the B-2. In line with all of this, Armagost spent much of his time yesterday talking about the critical value he sees coming not just from the size of the planned fleet for forthcoming B-21 Raider bombers, as you can read more about here. The Air Force plans to buy at least 100 B-21s, if not many more. The service currently has just 19 B-2 bombers out of a total of 21 that were ever produced, which imposes significant limits on their operational capacity despite the highly valuable 'silver bullet' capabilities they offer, as was demonstrated during the Midnight hammer strikes. The B-21 is smaller than the B-2, and won't be able to carry as much gross tonnage of ordnance per sortie. Still, the Raider could have an even more impressive 'single pass' strike capability, all while offering enhanced survivability. While 80 JDAMs may not be on the weapons menu, with new smaller standoff munition options like the GBU-39/B Small Diameter Bomb (SDB) or its successor, the GBU-53/B StormBreaker, the B-21 could exceed the quantity of the B-2's bomb load. And it could release those weapons at standoff ranges, eclipsing the B-2's impressive direct attack capabilities. The B-2 is not currently capable of employing the SDB or Stormbreaker. The ability to launch even small but just as accurate drones that can network together to swarm targets with deadly precision could take this capability even another step forward. Regardless of what the future holds, the smiley face anecdote that Maj. Gen. Armagost shared underscores why the Air Force's B-2s will continue to be prized for their unique ability to bring heavy ordnance loads deep into defended and deal massive, highly-efficient destruction in minimal time. Contact the author: joe@
Time of India
11-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Signs of World War III: Trump's favourite ‘two weeks' warning returns, major Russia statement looms as White House keeps Putin guessing
Something is brewing in Washington, and the clock is ticking. President Donald Trump has once again reached for his signature phrase - 'two weeks' - to describe the timeline for a potentially seismic announcement on Russia, leaving both allies and adversaries in suspense. In a phone interview with NBC News' Kristen Welker on July 10, Trump declared, 'I think I'll have a major statement to make on Russia on Monday.' He refused to elaborate further, fueling speculation about what might be coming for Moscow and President Vladimir Putin . The last time Trump used the 'two weeks' timeline was on June 19 when Israel and Iran were firing missiles and drones at each other in a potentially catastrophic armed conflict. 'Based on the fact that there's a substantial chance of negotiations that may or may not take place with Iran in the near future, I will make my decision whether or not to go within the next two weeks,' a White House statement released on June 19 had stated. But just two days later US B-2 Spirit stealth bombers flew thousands of miles to bomb Iran's nuclear sites. The airstrikes on Iran once again revealed that Trump's 'two weeks' are just a euphemism for putting in action his actual and closely guarded plans. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like At 82, she dances, dresses as she wishes and dismisses her 'old-fashioned' critics CNA Read More Undo Putin forces of NATO's doorsteps The Russia-Ukraine war continues and Putin's forces are increasing the volume of firepower even after Trump's multiple telephonic conversations with the Russian President. So the 'two weeks' utterance by Trump assumes yet another sinister and mysterious meaning, especially as any armed move against Russia could trigger an all-out nuclear war or World War III with the Russian military already inside Ukraine just a few hundred kilometers away from the borders of NATO member states. Just two days back CNN, the US media outlet claimed it had accessed an audio of Trump from the 2024 US presidential election campaign where he is heard stating that he had warned Putin of bombing the s**t out of Moscow if Russia entered Ukraine. Live Events So are the B-2s being once again readied at Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri to take another sortie of thousands of miles to targets in Russia? Any such move would cross the red line Putin has warned time and again and could lead to a massive retaliation - both conventional and nuclear - by Russian armed forces. Why Trump loves 'two weeks' For close watchers of Trump's presidency, the 'two weeks' promise is a familiar and often a cryptic signal. Over the years, Trump has invoked this phrase for everything from new policies on Iran to tax reform, tariffs, and even major diplomatic moves. In the case of Iran, he said, 'We'll see what happens in two weeks', when asked about the escalation in the Middle East. He then went on to order airstrikes on Iran's nuclear sites within 48 hours of his statement. A few months back, when asked about his confidence in Russian President Vladimir Putin, Trump replied, 'I'll let you know in about two weeks'. When pressed for details on his tax plan during his re-election campaign, his answer was again: 'Two weeks'. The long-promised infrastructure package? 'We're going to have something in two weeks' Trump has used 'two weeks' or 'in a couple of weeks' dozens of times during his presidency, typically to buy time, keep rivals off balance, or signal brewing action without giving away details. This time, the stakes are especially high. Trump's comments come as the U.S. prepares to send a new tranche of American weapons to Ukraine through a deal with NATO. 'We're sending weapons to NATO, and NATO is paying for those weapons, 100%,' Trump told NBC, describing a plan in which the U.S. supplies arms to NATO, which then delivers them to Ukraine, with full reimbursement from the alliance. The arrangement, reportedly struck at last month's NATO summit, is designed to bolster Kyiv's defenses while shifting the financial burden away from U.S. taxpayers, a move that could have significant diplomatic and military implications as Russia intensifies its assault on Ukraine. Trump's tone toward Vladimir Putin has also shifted notably in recent days. 'I'm not happy with Putin, I can tell you that much right now, because he's killing a lot of people,' Trump told NBC, adding, 'We get a lot of bulls--t thrown at us by Putin. He is very nice all the time, but it turns out to be meaningless'. The president has signaled support for a Senate bill that would impose tougher sanctions on Russia, sponsored by Senator Lindsey Graham, and has openly criticized Putin's ongoing war in Ukraine. What exactly Trump will announce on Monday remains a tightly guarded secret. The White House has not offered any further clues, and the president himself is known for using the 'two weeks' timeline as both a rhetorical device and a strategic smokescreen. For Vladimir Putin, the uncertainty may be the point. As one senior administration official told Bloomberg, 'Trump likes to keep everyone guessing - including our adversaries.' The pattern is clear: when Trump says 'two weeks,' something big - sometimes unpredictable - tends to follow.
Economic Times
04-07-2025
- Politics
- Economic Times
Trump may arm Israel with B-2 bombers, bunker busters if Iran restarts nuclear program
What are Bunker Busters and B-2 Bombers? What just happened with Iran? Live Events Is Iran really done with Nukes? What about the Houthis? FAQs (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel A new bill called the Bunker Buster Act has been proposed in the U.S. Congress. It was introduced by Rep. Josh Gottheimer and Rep. Mike bill lets President Trump give B-2 stealth bombers and bunker buster bombs to Israel if Iran tries to restart its nuclear weapon program, as per the FOX News report.B-2 bombers are powerful U.S. military planes that can't be given to other countries as of now. The U.S. has 19 B-2s in use. Bunker buster bombs are 30,000-pound GBU-57s, also called Massive Ordnance Penetrators, as per the bombs can go 200 feet underground before exploding and are used for attacking hidden nuclear sites. Israel does not have these types of bombs, as mentioned in the report by FOX said 14 bunker busters were dropped by U.S. B-2 pilots on Iran's top 3 nuclear sites recently. He claimed this "totally destroyed" Iran's nuclear program. At the same time, Israel attacked other Iranian targets and took out top Iranian military said Iran has killed U.S. soldiers, attacked Israel, and is a huge threat. He added that Israel must stop Iran from rebuilding its nukes. Lawler said this bill gives Trump the power to give Israel the tools and training to stop Iran and keep the world safe, as per the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, said Iran's Fordow site is not running right now. But he warned Iran still has the tools and could start enriching uranium again in just a few said the attacks caused severe damage, but not total damage, and Iran still has nuclear tech and machines, according to the report by CBS the Houthis launched a missile at Israel, U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee said B-2s should be sent to hit Houthi targets in Yemen. Actually, B-2 bombers already hit Houthi sites in Yemen back in October 2024, as per the report by FOX help Israel stop Iran if it restarts its nuclear weapons a proposed law to let Trump give B-2 bombers and bunker buster bombs to Israel if Iran goes nuclear again.
Time of India
04-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Trump may arm Israel with B-2 bombers, bunker busters if Iran restarts nuclear program
What are Bunker Busters and B-2 Bombers? What just happened with Iran? Live Events Is Iran really done with Nukes? What about the Houthis? FAQs (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel A new bill called the Bunker Buster Act has been proposed in the U.S. Congress. It was introduced by Rep. Josh Gottheimer and Rep. Mike bill lets President Trump give B-2 stealth bombers and bunker buster bombs to Israel if Iran tries to restart its nuclear weapon program, as per the FOX News report.B-2 bombers are powerful U.S. military planes that can't be given to other countries as of now. The U.S. has 19 B-2s in use. Bunker buster bombs are 30,000-pound GBU-57s, also called Massive Ordnance Penetrators, as per the bombs can go 200 feet underground before exploding and are used for attacking hidden nuclear sites. Israel does not have these types of bombs, as mentioned in the report by FOX said 14 bunker busters were dropped by U.S. B-2 pilots on Iran's top 3 nuclear sites recently. He claimed this "totally destroyed" Iran's nuclear program. At the same time, Israel attacked other Iranian targets and took out top Iranian military said Iran has killed U.S. soldiers, attacked Israel, and is a huge threat. He added that Israel must stop Iran from rebuilding its nukes. Lawler said this bill gives Trump the power to give Israel the tools and training to stop Iran and keep the world safe, as per the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, said Iran's Fordow site is not running right now. But he warned Iran still has the tools and could start enriching uranium again in just a few said the attacks caused severe damage, but not total damage, and Iran still has nuclear tech and machines, according to the report by CBS the Houthis launched a missile at Israel, U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee said B-2s should be sent to hit Houthi targets in Yemen. Actually, B-2 bombers already hit Houthi sites in Yemen back in October 2024, as per the report by FOX help Israel stop Iran if it restarts its nuclear weapons a proposed law to let Trump give B-2 bombers and bunker buster bombs to Israel if Iran goes nuclear again.
