B-2 Stealth Bomber Size and Dimensions: Complete Specifications Guide

The B-2 Spirit stealth bomber stands as one of the most technologically advanced and visually distinctive aircraft ever built. Its massive flying wing design makes it instantly recognizable, but understanding the true scale of this strategic bomber requires examining its precise dimensions and specifications.

Overall Dimensions of the B-2 Spirit

The B-2 Spirit features truly impressive dimensions that reflect its strategic bomber role:

• Wingspan: 172 feet (52.4 meters)
• Length: 69 feet (21.0 meters)
• Height: 17 feet (5.18 meters)
• Wing Area: 5,140 square feet (478 square meters)

The B-2’s wingspan of 172 feet is particularly noteworthy. This makes it wider than a Boeing 737 airliner is long, yet the bomber’s total length of just 69 feet creates an extremely unusual aspect ratio. The aircraft is essentially all wing, with the fuselage blended seamlessly into the flying wing design.

At just 17 feet tall, the B-2 maintains a remarkably low profile when parked. This is shorter than many commercial delivery trucks and significantly contributes to its reduced radar cross-section.

Weight Specifications

The B-2’s weight characteristics demonstrate the engineering challenge of building such a large stealth platform:

• Empty Weight: 158,000 pounds (71,700 kg)
• Loaded Weight: 336,500 pounds (152,200 kg)
• Maximum Takeoff Weight (MTOW): 376,000 pounds (170,600 kg)
• Fuel Capacity: 167,000 pounds (75,750 kg)
• Maximum Weapons Payload: 40,000 pounds (18,000 kg)

The B-2 can carry more than twice its empty weight in fuel and ordnance, enabling its intercontinental strike capability. The fuel capacity alone exceeds 20,000 gallons, allowing the bomber to operate at extreme ranges without aerial refueling, though it is equipped with refueling capability for truly global missions.

Performance Specifications

The B-2’s performance characteristics balance speed, range, and stealth capabilities:

• Maximum Speed: High subsonic (approximately Mach 0.95 or 630 mph / 1,010 km/h)
• Cruise Speed: Mach 0.85 (550 mph / 890 km/h)
• Range: 6,000 nautical miles (11,100 km) unrefueled
• Combat Range: 5,000+ nautical miles with one aerial refueling
• Service Ceiling: 50,000 feet (15,200 meters)
• Rate of Climb: Classified, but estimated at several thousand feet per minute

Unlike previous generations of strategic bombers, the B-2 was designed for high subsonic speeds rather than supersonic capability. This design choice prioritized stealth characteristics, fuel efficiency, and structural durability over raw speed. The aircraft can nevertheless cover vast distances quickly—a 6,000-nautical-mile mission can be completed in approximately 11 hours at cruise speed.

Crew and Cockpit Dimensions

The B-2 Spirit has a crew of two—pilot and mission commander—who sit side-by-side in the cockpit. The cockpit area features:

• Two ejection seats with full McDonnell Douglas ACES II capabilities
• Multi-function displays and heads-up display (HUD) for the pilot
• Defensive management systems station for the mission commander
• Sleeping accommodations for one crew member during extended missions
• Galley and toilet facilities

For missions exceeding 30 hours, the crew can rotate rest periods, with one sleeping in a specially designed bunk area behind the cockpit while the other manages the aircraft and mission systems.

Weapons Bay Dimensions and Capacity

The B-2 features two parallel weapons bays, each approximately 16 feet long, located in the center of the aircraft. Together, these bays can accommodate:

• 16 B61 or B83 nuclear bombs
• 16 AGM-129 Advanced Cruise Missiles
• 80 Mk 82 500-pound bombs
• 16 Mk 84 2,000-pound bombs
• 36 CBU-87/89/97 cluster munitions
• 16 JDAM GPS-guided bombs (2,000-pound)
• 8 GBU-28 5,000-pound bunker-buster bombs

The rotary launcher system allows for precise weapons delivery while maintaining the aircraft’s stealth profile. All ordnance is carried internally, as external stores would compromise the bomber’s radar-evading capabilities.

Propulsion System Specifications

The B-2 is powered by four General Electric F118-GE-100 turbofan engines, each producing 17,300 pounds of thrust. These engines are:

• Buried deep within the wing structure
• Equipped with special intake and exhaust designs to minimize radar and infrared signatures
• Non-afterburning (optimized for fuel efficiency rather than maximum thrust)
• Capable of operating on standard JP-8 jet fuel

The engine placement and exhaust design are critical to the B-2’s stealth capabilities. The exhausts are located on the upper surface of the wing, shielding the hot engine signature from ground-based infrared detection systems.

Comparison to Other Strategic Bombers

B-2 Spirit vs. B-52 Stratofortress

The B-52, America’s longest-serving bomber, presents a stark contrast to the B-2:

• Wingspan: B-52 = 185 feet vs. B-2 = 172 feet
• Length: B-52 = 159 feet vs. B-2 = 69 feet
• Height: B-52 = 40.8 feet vs. B-2 = 17 feet
• MTOW: B-52 = 488,000 lbs vs. B-2 = 376,000 lbs
• Payload: B-52 = 70,000 lbs vs. B-2 = 40,000 lbs

While the B-52 carries a larger payload and has a slightly greater wingspan, the B-2 is far more compact in length and height. The B-2’s flying wing design eliminates the need for a traditional fuselage and tail section, reducing its overall size while maintaining effective payload capacity.

B-2 Spirit vs. B-1B Lancer

The B-1B supersonic bomber offers another interesting comparison:

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• Wingspan (extended): B-1B = 137 feet vs. B-2 = 172 feet
• Length: B-1B = 146 feet vs. B-2 = 69 feet
• Height: B-1B = 34 feet vs. B-2 = 17 feet
• MTOW: B-1B = 477,000 lbs vs. B-2 = 376,000 lbs
• Payload: B-1B = 75,000 lbs vs. B-2 = 40,000 lbs

The B-1B, designed for low-level penetration at supersonic speeds, has variable-geometry wings and a much longer conventional fuselage. The B-2’s wider wingspan gives it superior lift efficiency, while the B-1B’s greater length accommodates its swing-wing mechanism and larger payload capacity.

B-2 Spirit vs. Russian Tu-160 Blackjack

Russia’s largest bomber provides international context:

• Wingspan (extended): Tu-160 = 182 feet vs. B-2 = 172 feet
• Length: Tu-160 = 177 feet vs. B-2 = 69 feet
• Height: Tu-160 = 43 feet vs. B-2 = 17 feet
• MTOW: Tu-160 = 606,000 lbs vs. B-2 = 376,000 lbs
• Max Speed: Tu-160 = Mach 2+ vs. B-2 = Mach 0.95

The Tu-160 is substantially larger and heavier than the B-2, emphasizing speed over stealth. The B-2’s compact dimensions and unique shape prioritize radar evasion rather than raw performance metrics.

Hangar and Maintenance Requirements

The B-2’s dimensions create specific requirements for basing and maintenance:

• Hangar Requirements: Climate-controlled facilities at least 200 feet wide and 80 feet deep
• Door Clearance: Minimum 30-foot clearance for hangar doors
• Turning Radius: Requires approximately 90 feet for a 180-degree turn
• Runway Requirements: Minimum 10,000-foot runway for normal operations

The B-2’s stealth coating requires special climate-controlled maintenance facilities. The Radar-Absorbent Material (RAM) coating is sensitive to moisture and temperature extremes, necessitating enclosed hangars for most maintenance operations. This requirement significantly limits the number of bases that can support B-2 operations.

Historical Context: The Largest Flying Wing Ever Built

The B-2 Spirit holds the distinction of being the largest operational flying wing aircraft ever constructed. While experimental aircraft like the Northrop YB-49 (which had a 172-foot wingspan matching the B-2) were built in the late 1940s, the B-2 is the first and only flying wing design to achieve operational strategic bomber status.

The flying wing configuration offers several advantages:

• Reduced drag: Elimination of fuselage and tail surfaces improves aerodynamic efficiency
• Lower radar signature: Smooth surfaces with minimal angles and edges reduce radar returns
• Structural efficiency: The entire aircraft contributes to lift generation
• Fuel efficiency: Better lift-to-drag ratio extends range

Manufacturing and Construction Insights

Building an aircraft of the B-2’s dimensions required innovative manufacturing techniques:

• The aircraft is constructed primarily from composite materials (graphite/epoxy and titanium)
• Final assembly was conducted at Northrop Grumman’s Palmdale, California facility
• Each aircraft required approximately 2.5 million engineering hours
• Manufacturing tolerance requirements were measured in thousandths of an inch to maintain stealth characteristics

The B-2’s dimensions made it necessary to construct the aircraft in major sections that were then joined together. The center section, containing the weapons bays and crew stations, was built separately from the outer wing sections, which were attached during final assembly.

Operational Footprint and Deployment

The B-2’s dimensions affect its operational deployment:

• All 20 operational B-2s are based at Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri
• Forward deployment locations must have specially modified hangars
• The aircraft can deploy to Diego Garcia, Guam, and RAF Fairford (UK) with appropriate facility modifications
• Ramp space requirements exceed 15,000 square feet per aircraft

Despite its size, the B-2 has demonstrated remarkable global reach. In combat operations, B-2s have flown 44-hour missions from Whiteman AFB to targets in the Middle East and back, covering over 14,000 miles with aerial refueling.

Scale Comparisons to Everyday Objects

To better understand the B-2’s dimensions:

• The 172-foot wingspan is longer than an NBA basketball court (94 feet) placed end-to-end nearly twice
• The 69-foot length is approximately the height of a 6-story building
• The 17-foot height is about the same as a large moving truck
• The 5,140 square feet of wing area is larger than the average American house (approximately 2,500 square feet)

Future Developments: B-21 Raider Comparison

The B-2’s eventual replacement, the B-21 Raider, is expected to be somewhat smaller:

• Estimated wingspan of approximately 140-150 feet (smaller than B-2)
• Similar flying wing configuration
• Single internal weapons bay (versus two in the B-2)
• Advanced stealth materials requiring less maintenance

While exact specifications remain classified, the B-21 appears designed to be more cost-effective to operate while incorporating decades of stealth technology advancement since the B-2’s 1980s-era design.

Conclusion

The B-2 Spirit’s dimensions reflect a remarkable achievement in aerospace engineering—creating an aircraft large enough to carry strategic payloads across intercontinental distances while maintaining stealth characteristics that make it nearly invisible to radar. Its 172-foot wingspan and unique flying wing configuration represent the culmination of decades of research into stealth technology and aerodynamic efficiency.

With only 21 aircraft ever built (20 currently operational), each B-2 represents a unique combination of size, capability, and technological sophistication. The bomber’s dimensions enable it to fulfill its strategic mission while its innovative design principles continue to influence modern military aviation, including the development of the next-generation B-21 Raider.

Understanding the B-2’s precise specifications provides insight into the engineering challenges of creating a stealth strategic bomber and the compromises necessary to balance payload capacity, range, and radar evasion. The result is an aircraft whose dimensions tell the story of modern strategic air power.