A range of upgrade programmes are working on improving the B-2’s lethality its ability to receive updated target information during a mission, and its ability to collect, process and disseminate battlefield information with joint force commanders or other local first responders worldwide. This is done to ensure that craft remains fully mission capable against evolving worldwide threats. Northrop Grumman, the B-2’s prime contractor, leads an industry team that is working on modernising the B-2 bomber. These sensors sent distorted information to the air data system. A USAF investigation released an accident report in June 2008, which concluded that the crash was caused by moisture in the port transducer units.
The fleet was grounded pending the results of the investigation but was returned to service in April 2008. A USAF investigation into the causes of the crash is underway. The two pilots ejected safely from the aircraft, which was not carrying munitions. On 23 February 2008, a B-2 stealth bomber crashed shortly after take-off from Andersen AFB in Guam, the first crash in the aircraft’s history. In March 2005, a B-2 squadron was deployed for the first time to Andersen Air Force Base in Guam in support of the USAF Pacific Command.
The B-2 was thus deployed for the first time during Operation Iraqi Freedom in March / April 2003. Prior to this development, B-2s had to return to Whiteman AFB after missions, for maintenance of the aircraft’s stealth features. The first of these hangars has been erected on Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean. The hangars are 126ft long, 250ft wide and 55ft high.
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