Profile
- Type
- Stealth strategic bomber
- Conflict side
- United States
- Origin
- United States
- Service note
- Modern long-range strike aircraft
Aircraft & UAVs
B-2 Spirit
The B-2 Spirit is a U.S. low-observable strategic bomber whose long range and payload made it the aircraft used to deliver GBU-57 bunker-buster bombs in Operation Midnight Hammer against Iran.
- Conflict side
- United States
- Built by
- Northrop Grumman
- Built in
- United States
Service History
- In service
- 1997-present
- Used by
- United States Air Force
- Wars
- United States-Iran Conflict
Production History
- Designer
- Northrop
- Designed
- 1970s-1980s
- Built by
- Northrop Grumman
- Built in
- United States
- Produced
- 1989-2000
- Number built
- 21 aircraft
Specifications
- Crew
- 2 pilots
- Payload
- Up to 60,000 lb
- Range
- Intercontinental; about 6,000 nautical miles unrefueled
- Powerplant
- Four General Electric F118-GE-100 turbofan engines
- Role
- Low-observable strategic bombing with conventional or nuclear weapons
Conflict Usage
- United States-Iran Conflict
- Side: United States
Seven B-2 Spirit bombers participated in Operation Midnight Hammer, carrying GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator bombs against Iranian nuclear facilities.
B-2 Spirit Images
Related Weapon Systems
GBU-57 Massive Ordnance PenetratorPrecision-guided bunker-buster bombThe GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator is a U.S. Air Force deep-penetration munition built for heavily protected facilities and documented in its first operational use during strikes on Iranian nuclear sites.
Shahed-136One-way attack droneThe Shahed-136 is an Iranian-designed one-way attack drone associated with mass long-range strikes, appearing as the Russian Geran family in Ukraine and as an Iranian attack-drone threat in the U.S.-Iran conflict.
Bayraktar TB2Medium-altitude long-endurance UAVA Turkish unmanned aircraft used for reconnaissance and strike missions. It became especially prominent in the early phase of the full-scale invasion.
BGM-109 TomahawkLong-range cruise missileThe BGM-109 Tomahawk is a U.S. long-range subsonic cruise missile launched from ships and submarines; it was fired from a guided-missile submarine during Operation Midnight Hammer against Iran.
MIM-104 PatriotLong-range surface-to-air missile systemA high-end air defense system used by Ukraine against Russian air and missile attacks and by U.S. forces defending Al Udeid Air Base from Iranian ballistic missiles.
ZALA LancetLoitering munitionThe ZALA Lancet is a Russian electric loitering munition with a distinctive dual X-wing layout, launched from a catapult and guided by an onboard television channel for terminal attack. In the Russia-Ukraine War it became one of Russia's prominent tactical strike UAVs, used against Ukrainian artillery, air-defense systems, armor, vehicles, and other battlefield targets.Sources
B-2 SpiritPublisher: U.S. Air Force | Note: Supports B-2 mission, manufacturer, service background, and specifications. | Accessed: 2026-06-19Defense Agency Contributed Toward Operation Midnight Hammer SuccessPublisher: U.S. Department of War | Note: Supports United States-Iran Conflict use of B-2 Spirit bombers in Operation Midnight Hammer. | Accessed: 2026-06-19B2 Spirit ImagePublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports public-domain U.S. Air Force image provenance for the B-2 Spirit. | Accessed: 2026-06-19