A B-2 Spirit stealth bomber returned to its birthplace at Edwards Air Force Base to receive upgrades recently on the 35th anniversary of the aircraft’s maiden flight.
The B-2’s homecoming took place on July 17, precisely 35 years after the very first B-2 flight took off from the base’s sister facility, Plant 42 in Palmdale, in 1989 before setting down at Edwards, according to base representatives.
The visit wasn’t just for old times’ sake.
The aircraft, christened the Spirit of Pennsylvania, is in the process of undergoing a series of technological upgrades and testing meant to make sure it remains a dominant force in the skies over hostile territory well into the future, according to base representatives.
“The reintroduction of the B-2 to a test environment is not only nostalgic, but a careful first step toward new experiments and technological upgrades that will ensure it remains a vital asset in the U.S. Air Force’s fleet,” according to an Air Force statement.
Among the improvements to be added and tested on the aircraft include new state-of-the-art software system, officials said.
“Upgrades and future tests will ensure that the aircraft remains competitive in modern warfare,” the Air Force statement said.
With only a small fleet of B-2s available, reportedly numbering only 19 operational aircraft in 2024, the return of one of the valuable military resources to Edwards represented “a very big deal,” according to Maj. Stephen Henderson of the 419th Flight Test Squadron, who piloted the plane back to the base.
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“The fact that they were willing to give up one of their jets to do test really speaks to the importance of what we are looking to accomplish and hopefully get those new capabilities out to the warfighter as quickly as possible,” he said.
The B-2 is the only long-range penetrating bomber in the world, officials said. Although another, the B-21 Raider, is currently in development at Edwards.
Col. Joseph Little, commander of Detachment 5 of the Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center, said he was excited to have a B-2 back on base.
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“This aircraft enables Operational Test to integrate test points alongside our 412th (Test Wing) and 53rd (Wing) teammates and serves as another opportunity to conduct integrated test,” he said. “It is imperative that we continue to modernize, survive, and test that aircraft up until it is formally relieved from that obligation.”
This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: B-2 stealth bomber returns to Edwards AFB for major upgrade
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