U.S. Air Force B-2 Spirit bomber returns to service after major stealth overhaul

The U.S. Air Force has returned the B-2 Spirit bomber, known as the ‘Spirit of Kitty Hawk’, to frontline service following an extensive depot-level overhaul. The aircraft arrived at Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri on October 7, 2026, after undergoing maintenance at Air Force Plant 42 in Palmdale, California.

Managed by Northrop Grumman under the direction of the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, the maintenance process included heavy structural repairs, the restoration of low-observable coatings, and the maintenance of blade seals. The overhaul also involved replacing the aircraft’s hot trailing edge, a component designed to endure extreme thermal and acoustic environments produced by the bomber's engines.

As part of a small fleet of 20 aircraft, the return of this bomber increases the strategic options available to the U.S. President. The Spirit of Kitty Hawk is scheduled to enter the 509th Bomb Wing’s modification line later this month for further upgrades to its communications and low-observable capabilities.