The US Air Force mobilized 12 B-2 stealth bombers to take off consecutively, showcasing their power and demonstrating combat readiness.

“12 B-2 Spirit stealth bombers from the 509th Bomb Wing conducted consecutive takeoffs at Whiteman Air Force Base on April 15, concluding the annual Spirit Vigilance exercise. The routine training activity ensures that servicemen are always prepared to carry out global strike missions at any time,” the US Air Force said.

The 12 bombers represent nearly 70% of the total B-2 fleet in the current US Air Force inventory. This force typically consists of 11-12 combat-ready B-2s, with the remainder undergoing maintenance in hangars.

The US Air Force deployed 12 B-2 stealth bombers to take off consecutively, aiming to showcase their power and demonstrate combat readiness.

“The 12 B-2 Spirit stealth bombers from the 509th Bomb Wing conducted consecutive takeoffs at Whiteman Air Force Base on April 15, concluding the annual Spirit Vigilance exercise. The routine training activity ensures that servicemen are always prepared to carry out global strike missions at any time,” said the US Air Force.

The 12 bombers represent nearly 70% of the total B-2 fleet in the current US Air Force inventory. This force typically consists of 11-12 combat-ready B-2s, with the remainder undergoing maintenance in hangars.

“The simultaneous deployment of 12 B-2 aircraft is a highly impressive move, as these are the most expensive aircraft in the US Air Force and require extremely complex maintenance processes. This could be a message to showcase the strength and readiness of this squadron,” wrote journalist Oliver Parken on the military-focused website War Zone.

Spirit Vigilance is a training activity aimed at improving the combat capabilities of the forces stationed at Whiteman Air Base, the sole base of the B-2 Spirit fleet. The continuous takeoff exercises simulate scenarios of large-scale conflicts, in which the B-2 squadron must urgently evacuate the base to avoid enemy strikes and attack designated targets as quickly as possible.

The B-2 Spirit, introduced by the US in 1988, is also the most expensive aircraft in history. The manufacturing cost of one B-2 at the time was $515 million, equivalent to $1.06 billion today. Including research and development costs, each Spirit aircraft would cost up to $2.1 billion. The B-2 fleet is the tip of the spear in all US preemptive strike operations, thanks to its stealth capabilities against enemy radar.

The United States has produced a total of 21 B-2 Spirit stealth bombers, one of which was completely destroyed due to an incident during takeoff on Guam Island in 2008. Another aircraft suffered severe damage from a ground fire in 2010 but was repaired and returned to service at a very high cost.

Two other aircraft, namely the Spirit of Hawaii and the Spirit of Georgia, also suffered severe damage and became inoperable due to incidents during landing in 2021-2022. The US Air Force is currently repairing the Spirit of Georgia but has not announced plans to restore the Spirit of Hawaii.