The Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit is also known as the "stealth bomber." Its smooth contours and special coatings are designed to help it elude enemy radars. Advocates boast the two-person Air Force platform can deliver 16 B83 nuclear bombs in a single pass through extremely dense anti-aircraft defenses. It is also the most expensive plane in history, checking in at $2.4 billion per copy. Designed to attack the mighty Soviet Union, the B-2's first combat mission was against the relatively puny Serbia. And the prospect of future manned bombers — given all the costs associated with protecting its crew — is growing increasingly questionable as unmanned drones become smarter.
For the inside story on America's military operations around the world, check out Mark Thompson's blog, Battleland: Where military intelligence is not a contradiction in terms.