This is a pictorial history of Jack Northrop's dream, the B-2A Spirit, a low-observable, strategic, long-range, heavy bomber with the ability to penetrate sophisticated and dense enemy air-defence shields. It is capable of all-altitude attack missions up to 50,000 feet, with a range of more than 6,000 nautical miles (nm) unrefuelled, and over 10,000 nm with one refuelling, giving it the ability to fly to any point in the world within hours. Stealth technology has rendered radar systems ineffective by greatly reducing their detection ranges. After ten years of service, the B-2A finally achieved full operational capability in December 2003. An assessment published by the USAF showed that two B-2As armed with precision weaponry could do the job of seventy-five conventional aircraft. AUTHOR: Over the last thirty-five years Jim Goodall has authored more than two dozen books and articles on military aircraft, naval ships and submarines with a focus on Low Observables, or as it is known today, Stealth. SELLING POINTS: ? History and development of Northrop's Flying Wings, from the innovative XB-35A to the B-2A Spirit ? Details the B-2A Spirit with some of the best photographic coverage yet published ? Weapons: from 80 GPS-guided small-diameter bombs, to the 1.2-megaton B83 nuclear weapon 525 colour
