Stealth Aircraft On Bombing Missions

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The advantages and disadvantages of using stealth aircraft on bombing missions are varied, from their use in conflict to the risks and costs involved in operating such an aircraft. They are beneficial in restricting the length and time of battles especially when capable of long missions, but at a substantial cost to both the crew operating the craft and the US Air Force itself. This essay will explore the long missions the F-117 and B-2 stealth aircraft are capable of, the costs involved in developing and operating such aircraft, and their efficiency in battle.
An advantage of using stealth aircraft such as the F-117 Nighthawk and the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber is the capability that these aircraft have to undertake long missions. The B-2 was first used in 1999 in the Kosovo War, when six aircraft flew a non-stop round journey from their Missouri base, a mission taking 30 hours. The aircraft are highly automated, from their navigational systems to their weaponry and attack systems. They navigate using GPS and highly accurate inertial guidance systems which assist the autopilot functions. Bombing missions are automatically organised by a digital planning system that can carry out all functions, including release of the weapons themselves. Laser-guided bombs are used such as a pair of GBU-10, GBU-12, or BLU-109 penetration bombs, or Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAMs). Because of the high level of automation, and the decreasing cost and size of electronic equipment, it is
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