U.S. to Double B-2 Stealth Bomber Fleet Following Strike in Iran

The aircraft carries up to 27,000 kilograms of ordnance in internal bays, allowing it to maintain a low profile even during strikes

By Ami Rojkes Dombe, Israeldefense,co 21/10/2025

https://www.israeldefense.co.il/en/node/66592

B-2 Bomber - U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Joshua Hastings

The United States is expected to double its fleet of B-2 stealth bombers, with an addition of 28 new aircraft. The decision was made following the strike carried out by the U.S. Air Force in Iran last summer, which served as a milestone for assessing the aircraft’s operational capabilities.

During his visit to Israel on October 13, President Donald Trump stated that the bombers had proven themselves to be an essential strategic tool, particularly thanks to their ability to operate for long durations and carry advanced munitions. “They demonstrated impressive performance in the strike in Iran, and we will expand the fleet accordingly,” he said.

Members of B-2 bomber team recall strikes on Iranian nuclear sites

According to a report by World Defense News, security analysts estimate that a plan to significantly expand the bomber fleet is already being finalized in Washington. Originally, the U.S. Air Force was planned to operate 132 aircraft of this type, but after the end of the Cold War the number was reduced to just 21, based on the view that their primary role was nuclear deterrence.

During the strike in Iran, which took place last June, B-2 bombers took off from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri and flew missions that lasted up to 37 continuous hours, with multiple aerial refuelings. The bombers struck strategic targets inside Iran using GBU-57 penetrating bombs. The aircraft belong to the 509th Bomb Wing, considered one of the U.S. Air Force’s premier units.

The bomber’s stealth is achieved through a smooth, bump-free aerodynamic design and the use of special radar-absorbing coatings. The aircraft can carry up to 27,000 kilograms of ordnance in internal bays, allowing it to maintain a low radar profile even while conducting strikes.

The Pentagon plans to operate the bomber wing operationally around the world at least through 2032, as part of an overall posture to meet the strategic challenges of the coming decade.