US President Donald Trump announced Monday that the United States has ordered 28 new B-2 stealth bombers during his speech at the Israeli Knesset.
America “flew seven of those beautiful B-2 bombers” during Operation Midnight Hammer against Iran’s nuclear program, Trump said. “They looked so beautiful all of the sudden. I knew they were pretty planes but I had no clue what they could do what they did. In fact we just ordered 28 more of them. A little updated version. We ordered a whole pile of them."
Speaking at a press conference in August at the White House, Trump said that the US had ordered a “new and enhanced” version of the B-2. While he did not expand on his comment, he said that the upgraded aircraft was “similar but actually quite different.”
Growing regional concerns
The decision to invest in additional stealth platforms also reflects growing concerns over the capabilities of adversarial air defense systems, particularly those developed by China and Russia. With the B-21 Raider still undergoing final testing and not yet fully operational, the upgraded B-2s may serve as a strategic bridge, reinforcing the US Air Force’s long-range strike capacity.
The B-2 Spirit bomber combines aerodynamic efficiency with formidable firepower and is capable of penetrating the most sophisticated enemy defenses. Its stealth capabilities allow it to strike high-value targets anywhere in the world with minimal risk of detection. This aircraft plays a critical role in deterrence and global strike operations, offering unmatched flexibility and reach.
Its low-observable design incorporates reduced infrared, acoustic, electromagnetic, visual, and radar signatures. Its flying-wing shape, composite materials, and special coatings contribute to its stealth profile. The aircraft has a wingspan of 172 feet and a payload capacity of 40,000 pounds, boasts an unrefueled range of approximately 6,000 nautical miles (9,600 kilometers) and can operate at altitudes up to 50,000 feet- increasing the field of view for the aircraft’s sensors.
The Air Force introduced the B-2 in 1997 and has 19 bombers in active service. Each aircraft is estimated to cost $1.2 billion. There has not been any formal procurement announcement by Northrop Grumman or the Pentagon, and the company is currently focused on the B-21 Raider stealth bomber.
Trump said that almost 100 other planes took part in the strike and that “we also sent 52 tankers with the B-2s. Our planes flew for 37 hours, and these tankers refueled the planes 4-5 times.”
The US president, who was in Israel to mark the return of the hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip, discussed the attack on Iran and said that the aircraft dropped 14 bombs and “obliterated” the facilities.
"Together we helped stop the world’s number one state sponsor of terrorism from making nuclear weapons. If we didn’t do that, there would be a dark cloud over this [Gaza] deal. This was our last shot,” he said. "If there were large scale nuclear weapons in the hands of Iran we wouldn’t be here today. We took a big cloud off the Middle East and off Israel. They took a big hit."