Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit
The Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit, also known as the Stealth Bomber is an American “heavy penetrating strategic bomber” that assimilates stealth technology into its design. It was developed to penetrate anti-aircraft defenses. The Stealth Bomber is able to deliver both conventional and nuclear munitions, and is the only aircraft recognized to carry large “air-to-surface standoff weapons” in a stealth configuration [1]. The B-2 Spirit is representative of an enormous leap forward in technology as colossal firepower, delivered anywhere on Earth, to formerly impermeable defenses [2]. Besides being an awesome feat of engineering, the Stealth Bomber has had a huge impact on many other areas, including: life in general, technological need, societal, political, and business systems developed alongside the Stealth Bomber, and on Arizona.
The Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirt has had an enormous impact on the lives of U.S citizens,
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unsurprisingly since this was the region in which it was created, but also on the lives of people from all around the world. Having the most powerful military in the world, with a budget of $597 billion USD, it is easy for the U.S. and its citizens to forget the impact that their technologies have on other countries [3]. The Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirt has positively affected the United States as a strategic stealth bomber since its inception in 1987 [2]. It has remained a valuable tool of military. The B-2 Stealth Bomber was first used in combat missions during NATO operations in Serbia and Kosovo in 1999. Some notable uses include the B-2’s response to the 9/11 attacks on the U.S. on Afghanistan, and B-2 stealth bombers "shock and awe" campaign in Iraq, successfully hitting the correct targets with 2000-pound bombs but failing to kill Saddam Hussein [4]. The Northrop Grumman is a great feat of engineering, and a distinguished self-defense tool. Before the B-2 Stealth Bomber was developed, there were many factors involved leading up to its creation. These factors are many, and comprise the sum of reasons for the production of the B-2 in the first place. There were two main reasons for the creation of the B-2. The first is that it was developed to penetrate Soviet airspace after the Cold War. The second was to provide a rapid response defense against a foreign power’s nuclear strike on American soil [5]. This need for self-defense has had great impact on political, military systems, under U.S rule. The original purpose of the B-2 Stealth Bomber was to perform “deep penetrating” nuclear strike missions, taking advantage of its stealth configurations to avoid discovery and counterstrikes during missions. After the disintegration of the Soviet Union however, it was decided that the B-2 would be outfitted to accommodate traditional “precision” attacks, along with strategic nuclear strikes [6]. There was much opposition when the B-2s were introduced due to high production and operating costs. There was much concern from the U.S. Congress, and especially from the Joint Chiefs of Staff. There was a lesser need for the B-2 since the tension caused by the Cold War was finally subsiding. The Air Force had originally planned to purchase 132 Stealth Bombers amassing a total of approximately $132 billion, or $1 billion dollars each. Congress reduced the number of B-2 purchased from 132 to 21. Despite the trouble that was encountered to build the B-2s, there are 20 still in service, and are expected to operate until 2058 [6]. As a result of the B-2 Sprit’s success there have been innumerable societal, political, and business systems developed alongside the B-2 Stealth Bomber. The most glaring political system that was developed has to do with the U.S. government, namely the military. There have been a vast number of improvements on the B-2 Spirit, including: a new integrated processing unit that processes information and signals throughout the aircraft using a fiber optic technology, upgraded flight program software, new weapon control systems, and new radar technology. The military has had to hire many engineers from Northrop Grumman to complete this herculean task. And congress also had a say in how much money was allowed to be spent on the B-2 Spirt upgrades. It is clear that political and business systems are intertwined in an inseparable way. These systems have had to evolve over time to accommodate the continuation of the B-2 Spirit [6]. The Stealth Bomber did not just have a big overarching impact, it affected specific regions too.
The company that created the B-2 Spirit was Northrop Grumman, a company that focuses on global security. Northrop Grumman has been for many great technological advancements, in this report the B-2 Spirit was discussed, they will not be mentioned here, but there are so many other engineering works that deserve attention of society. These technological advancements attract the finest engineers. This is the biggest impact that the Stealth Bomber has had on my home region: Arizona. Northrop Grumman will continue to inspire the future generation of engineers who create the best technology, which will in turn inspire everyone who observes this phenomenon. These engineers will not just be from every state, a fraction of them will be from Arizona, acting as crucial cog in the bigger machine that is Northrop Grumman. The B-2 Stealth Bomber has certainly inspired me. It would be an honor if I got to work at such a fine establishment
[7]. The B-2 Spirt is one of the outstanding creations that the U.S military industrial complex has ever created. It represents best of what technology can be, and transcends the borders of what was previously thought unimaginable. It has had a colossal impact on wide area of the human experience, and will continue to do so.
...ccess of the P-51. From the early days of the A model all the way to the newly designated F-51D, the Mustang fought through swaths of enemies to allow victory for the Allies and the United States. The P-51 is a recognizable machine that embodies the entire war effort of the time and continues to inspire aviation enthusiasts. Today there are many people and companies that are dedicated to preserving and protecting these pieces of our nations history by reconditioning and donating to capable museums and collectors. Through the work of these individuals the P-51 Mustang will forever be a symbol of air power during the world toughest times.
The United States Army has been through many changes since its start in 1775, yet it remains the greatest, most disciplined all volunteer fighting force in the world. Like the service members of the past and present, many Army units have contributed to the success of our military, and like those service members many have been lost. Even though these units are not as well known as the divisions they have belonged to, they have enriched the history of our Army just the same. The achievements of the 123rd Aviation Battalion have contributed to the history and success of our nations battles.
1. What do you think of when you drive by that big B-52 at the museum? Being the history buff that I am, I think about Vietnam, where that old “Buff” was used the most. “Why should I care about Vietnam?” you ask yourself. Well, last time I checked there’s a history section in the PFE guide, so there might be a test later! The intent of this paper is to inform you about Operation Linebacker II. I’ll explain the events leading up to the operation, discuss the strategy, and finally I’ll sum up the results of a bombing campaign Sir Michael Knight characterized In the book Strategic Offensive Air Operation as “...may have played a role not unlike two B-29s over Japan 27 years earlier”. (Knight: 77) I’ll start by explaining why President Richard Nixon gave the order to begin this new bombing campaign.
Eventually Bombardier was able to start up his own factory with a production capacity of 200. In the 1940s, resources and materials were limited because of the war. Although many companies success was limited within these years, Bombardier was able to turn it around and use it to his companies’ benefit. The government ordered more than a hundred B1s, a modified version of the newer B12 model. The B12 was mainly used for cargo and mail transport, often used by mailmen and also commonly used by ambulance and rescue services.
The P-51 Mustang is regarded by many sources as the greatest fighter plane ever created. With the technological advancements this plane achieved, to it’s service record, to it’s importance in winning World War Two, the Mustang is truly one of the greats. The Mustang played a key role in long range bomber support and saved countless bomber crew’s lives, and pilots loved to fly it. The P-51 had the most aerial victories of any American fighter in World War Two and it was flown by some of America’s top aces. The P-51 was a beast of a fighter plane
In 1940, Preston Tucker created the Tucker Aviation Corporation, and wanted to manufacture aircraft and marine engines. He designed a fighter aircraft, the Tucker XP-57, which the U.S.A.A.C. took an interest in. Again, this n...
Following the bi-planes, the bomber design took great change. In a Unites States Army Air Corp or USAAC competition in 1934, they were looking for a new plane that could provide defense and better qualities than the current service plane, the Keystone bi-plane bomber. (Boeing B-17 Flying) Boeing came up with the design and built the B-17 and won the competition. The plane was not a bi-plane, but a single winged, nine cylinder radial engine plane that could carry a normal cargo storage of 25 tons and could fly a distance of 2 thousand miles. (Boeing B-17 Flying) The plane had been described by a German test pilot who flew a captured B-17 who said “the aircraft was easy to fly and land. When one had become accustomed...
The. Johnson, David E. Fast Tanks and Heavy Bombers: Innovation in the U.S. Army, 1917-1945. Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 1998. Print. The. "
intelligence cables and supports the idea that the Stinger missile changed the tide of the war.
...It was inspected at the Roswell Army Air Field and subsequently loaned by Major Marcel to higher headquarters. (qtd. in Berlitz 24)
The Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird was the result of more than six decades of advancements in aviation since the first powered flight. Its development began in the May of 1960, following the Soviet downing of a Lockheed U-2 reconnaissance aircraft. President Eisenhower requested Lockheed Martin to design an aircraft to replace the U-2, an aircraft “capable of avoiding all enemy defences”. Thus in 1962 Lockheed Martin introduced the first prototype, the Lockheed A-12. The A-12 embodied all operational capabilities required to avoid the enemy defences, however it lacked in strategic reconnaissance capabilities. A variation of the A-12 airframe gave way to the Lockheed YF-12A Airforce Interceptor in 1963, which served as a cover for the development of the SR-71 Blackbird. The monumental Lockheed SR-71
The stealth fighter program stalled until 1981, when the Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk was first being developed. The Nighthawk was a black project, one of the highest ranks of security, for much of its life. The stealth in the Nighthawk was created with flat panels, called facets, which were arranged in such a way as to scatter up to 99% of radar energy signals that "paint" the target airplane. Later, in 1986, the B-2 bomber was created. It was slightly larger than the Nighthawk and didn't have a tail...
Following the end of the war, Boeing suffered significant financial losses from their defense division; this experience forced the company to reinvent themselves, and that they did. In the 1950s during the Korean War Boeing started to develop guided missiles. This technology led to the creation of the intercontinental missile.... ... middle of paper ...
The use of drones as weapons of war and delivery and surveillance systems should not be dismissed because many people do not realize the real capabilities of drones and how they can be used to better the world through efficient air strikes, faster delivery times, and useful surveillance. Some of the most common misconceptions about drones arise due to the lack of knowledge about what drones are. A drone is a remote controlled, pilotless aircraft that can be used to survey an area, conduct stealth missions, and deliver supplies into difficult to reach areas (Drone). Unmanned aircraft are also, contrary to popular belief, not solely machines that kill without even a thought to who is being fired upon. They have proved to be effective surveillance units in areas that may be dangerous for manned aircraft to fly, along with the potential to be reliable delivery units (Drones).