US restores $2 billion B-2 strategic bomber for just $23 million

Four years after a landing-gear failure caused severe damage to the B-2 Spirit bomber known as the Spirit of Georgia, the US Air Force and Northrop Grumman successfully completed an extensive, multiyear repair effort, returning the aircraft to flight on November 6. The incident began in September 2021 when a hydraulic issue led to a landing gear collapse on touchdown, causing structural damage to the left main landing gear bay and lower wing. Emergency crews quickly stabilized the aircraft, enabling detailed inspections that confirmed the extent of the damage and allowed for a one-time ferry flight to Northrop Grumman’s Palmdale facility for permanent repairs. The restoration process, costing just $23.7 million compared to the bomber’s $2 billion value, involved innovative solutions such as harvesting a composite skin panel from a test article to avoid fabricating new parts, and overcoming challenges like composite disbonds, fuel-tank contamination, and the inability to use autoclaves for repairs. The repair