• News
  • Film and TV
  • Music
  • Tech
  • Features
  • Celebrity
  • Politics
  • Weird
  • Community
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
TikTok
YouTube
Submit Your Content
Inside B-2 stealth bombers and how they made 18-hour journey to Iran 'without the world knowing’

Home> News> US News

Updated 14:56 23 Jun 2025 GMT+1Published 12:49 23 Jun 2025 GMT+1

Inside B-2 stealth bombers and how they made 18-hour journey to Iran 'without the world knowing’

Each jet is said to have cost over $2 billion to build

Niamh Shackleton

Niamh Shackleton

The stealth bombers used in Saturday evening's attack on Iran by the US have been hailed as the most expensive military aircraft ever built.

Officially called the Northrop B-2 Spirit, these jets cost over $2 billion each to build and are the only jet that has the capabilities of dropping the notorious 30,000lb 'bunker busting' bombs that were dropped on three Iranian nuclear sites over the weekend.

Before and after photos demonstrate the destruction the US' attack had on Iran's nuclear sites.

The strike was said to have been 'highly classified', with the aircrafts making it over to Iran 'without the world knowing'.

Advert

The jets' journey to Iran was part of an extremely complex plan, dubbed 'Operation Midnight Hammer'. A handful of B-2 jets went west from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri, US, as decoys, while the other jets went east to head for Iran.

B-2 stealth bomber is one of the most expensive aircrafts ever made (Gary Chalker/Getty Stock)
B-2 stealth bomber is one of the most expensive aircrafts ever made (Gary Chalker/Getty Stock)

And the tactic worked.

The east-bound B-2s went undetected while the rest of the world watched the decoys make their way towards Guam.

Advert

These high-end military aircrafts have a range of 7,000 and, in a bid to remain undetected, the pilots had to refuel the jet while airborne during the 36-hour long round trip.

Reportedly, it took American pilots 18-hours to travel from Missouri to Iran.

With long journeys in B-2 jets not being uncommon, the aircrafts are kitted out with everything the pilots need for their long-haul flight.

Naveed Jamali is one of the very few journalists who has seen inside the infamous military jets, and he chatted to Newsweek about what's inside them.

Advert

As the B-2 only needs two pilots, apparently the jet is 'much more spacious than other bombers' and there's even space for a sleeping bag.

"It's not uncommon for one pilot to sleep while the other flies and to take shifts," Jamali said.

While B-2 pilots might be fortunate enough to have space to rest during their long flights, Jamali insisted that the aircrafts are not built for the comfort of pilots and insisted that the seats they have are 'incredibly uncomfortable'.

Advert

Elsewhere, a defense official confirmed to the news outlet that there's a toilet on the jet, but it isn't a full bathroom.

There's also rumoured to be a microwave on the B-2 bombers, New York Post reports.

It's unclear what's next for the ongoing tensions between Iran, America and Israel, but Donald Trump has urged the country not to retaliate to Saturday's air strike.

The president penned on Truth Social: "Any retaliation by Iran against the United States of America will be met with force far greater than what was witnessed [on Saturday]."

Featured Image Credit: Gary Ell/ Getty Stock Images

Topics: World News, US News, Military

Niamh Shackleton
Niamh Shackleton

Niamh Shackleton is an experienced journalist for UNILAD, specialising in topics including mental health and showbiz, as well as anything Henry Cavill and cat related. She has previously worked for OK! Magazine, Caters and Kennedy.

X

@niamhshackleton

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

3 hours ago
6 hours ago
7 hours ago
8 hours ago
  • 3 hours ago

    Amazon Prime series with near-perfect RT score is labeled 'one of the best' by Stephen King

    The series starring Titus Welliver has been branded 'one of the most underrated TV shows'

    Film & TV
  • 6 hours ago

    People horrified after hearing tech billionaire Peter Thiel’s ‘sociopathic’ response about the future of humanity

    People have been creeped out by how he answered a simple question

    News
  • 7 hours ago

    Doctor issues warning over hidden symptoms of Lyme disease as tick bites near record highs in US states

    Parts of the US have seen a sudden uptick in tick bites

    News
  • 8 hours ago

    ‘World’s top couple’s therapist’ reveals the one surprising behavior in people’s relationships that ‘scares her’

    The psychologist said this one thing in other couples doesn't seem real

    News
  • Ex-pilot of B-2 stealth bomber reveals disturbing truth of going to toilet on 44-hour mission
  • Former Air Force colonel who completed 44-hour mission reveals what it’s like to be inside B-2 stealth bomber
  • Pentagon shares details behind 'highly classified' strike on Iran and how stealth bombers traveled ‘without the world knowing’
  • Everyone's saying the same thing after Trump reveals how Iran informed him about missile attack on US base