There never were any credible and officially verified reports of the B-2 Spirit being shot off the skies. However, the B-2 Spirit has been involved in a fair number of crashes that are all attributed to an accident or a mechanical failure but not enemy fire. The following is an overview of the known incidences:
B-2 Accidents Crashes Information:
Guam Andersen Air Force Base (February, 23 2008)
Cause: Wet aircraft sensors gave false information when the plane was trying to take off thus causing a stall.
The aircraft crashed just after take off, yet the two crew members ejected safely.
Did it get shot down? ❌ No, it was only because of technical failure.
September 14, 2021 Whiteman Air Force Base Missouri (September 14, 2021)
Causal factor: There was a landing crash. There is remarkably little detail, and it was not due to action of the enemy.
Result/consequence: The airplane was damaged, and an investigation was carried out.
Did it crash? ❌ No the second time, too, there was no war action.
When you speak of rumors/conspiracy theories of a B- 2 being shot (i.e. in Serbia or over enemy territory), these postulations are without merit or backing of any reliable military or intelligence data.
Do you want to know more about the crash of 2008 or the stealth ability of the aircraft and why it is hard to shoot it down?
You mentioned:
Do you want more about the crash of 2008 or the stealth capacity of the aircrafts and why it is hard to shoot it down?
ChatGPT responded:
Excellent! We shall now look into the two topics including the 2008 crash and why the B-2 Spirit is difficult to take down since they are closely connected in understanding the survivability of this aircraft.
B-2 Spirit Crash 2008- Andersen AFB, Guam
📅 Date:
23 February, 2008
📍 Location:
Guam Andersen Air Force Base
🧑✈️ Crew:
There were two pilots who survived as they ejected.
⚙️ Cause:
This happened when moisture got inside the air data sensors of the aircraft that forms part of the flight control system.
These sensors sent wrong information of speed and angle-of-attack to the flight computer.
This turned out to be due to the aircraft rotating early during takeoff leading to stall and crash.
📉 Result:
The plane was totally lost at a current approximate estimation of $1.4 billion.
The event became the first loss of a B-2 in its history since its inception in the 1990s.
🧪 Investigation:
The crash could not be linked to the pilot error, but the software/ system failure as a result of the faulty sensor data as determined by the Air Force.
Hints at Why the B-2 Is so Hard to Take Down
B-2 Spirit is one of the most secretive and strong aircraft manufactured. The following are the reasons:
Hidden Shape and Materials
The flying wing design of B-2 gives it a smaller radar cross-section (RCS).
The aircraft is coated with radar-absorbing materials (RAM), which are used to soak up the radar emitted.
Low Infrared (IR) visa
The wings incorporate the engines into the wing area so that the heat signature is not known and that would make it hard to target the ones guided by infrared.
Radar Cross Section (RCS)
Its RCS is that of a bird (roughly), on radar.
It is almost invisible to the early-warning and the tracking radar, particularly the older ones.
High-Altitude Penetration
The B-2 flies high, above most surface-to-aerial missile power (SAM) reach and at times above the location even most surface-to-air missile power (SAM) reaches.
Electronic Countermeasures
It is equipped with advanced electronic war machines which interfere with radar and missile of the enemy or deceive them.
Mission Planning
Operation plans are well put together based on the satellite intelligence, flight-path studies, and modeling of threats to avoid air defenses altogether.