Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit ||

A B-2 Spirit bomber is prepared for a morning mission at Anderson Air Force Base, Guam. The aircraft is from the 509th Bomb Wing at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Val Gempis)

A B-2 Spirit flies June 4, 2011, above Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., during the 2011 Dakota Thunder air show. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Nathan Gallahan)

WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE Mo. 509th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, maintainers and crew chiefs, prepare B-2 Stealth Bombers for Operation Odyssey Dawn March 19, 2011. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kenny Holston)(Released)

An aircrew flies a B-2 Spirit over the airfield as part of an aerial demonstration for the 2010 Airpower Over the Midwest Air Show Sept. 11, 2010, at Scott Air Force Base, Ill. The B-2 is assigned to Whiteman AFB, Mo. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Scott T. Sturkol)

Crew chiefs with the 509th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron prepare a B-2 Spirit for flight Aug. 24, 2009, at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo. The B-2's primary mission is to attack time-critical targets early in a conflict to minimize an enemy's warfighting potential. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior

Air Force Global Strike Command officials assumed responsibility for the Air Force's nuclear-capable bomber force, including the B-52 Stratofortress and B-2 Spirit shown here, Feb. 1, 2010. This action completes the step-by-step transfer of all Air Force long-range, nuclear-capable assets to the Air Force's newest major command. (U.S. Air Force photo)

Airmen 1st Class Patrick Holter (left) and Patrick Dixon start the high-five salute as they prepare to launch the first B-2 Spirit of the day Sept. 8, 2009, on the Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., flightline. The Airmen are crew chiefs with the 509th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron and work around the clock to stay prepared for real world missions. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Kenny Holston)

A B-2 Spirit taxis down the flightline at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., Aug. 22. Twenty B-2 bombers are assigned to the 509th Bomb Wing. The B-2 brings massive firepower to bear, in a short time, anywhere on the globe through previously impenetrable defenses. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Kenny Holston)

Two F-22 Raptors and a B-2 Spirit bomber deployed to Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, fly in formation over the Pacific Ocean. The deployment to Andersen marks the first time F-22s and B-2s, the key strategic stealth assets in the Air Force inventory, deployed together outside the continental United States. (U.S Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Kevin J. Gruenwald)

A B-2 Spirit is towed to a parking spot Feb. 12 at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii. The B-2, from the 509th Bomb Wing at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., is one of four bombers currently deployed to Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, as part of U.S. Pacific Command's continuous bomber presence. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Shane A. Cuomo)

A KC-135 Stratotanker refuels a B-2 Spirit Nov. 20 over the Pacific Ocean. The B-2 and KC-135 are deployed to Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, to support U.S. Pacific Command's continuous bomber presence and theater security package operations. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Brian Kimball)

A B-2 Spirit II flies over the Air Force Memorial during a practice flight over the Oct. 13 in Arlington, Va. The memorial dedication ceremony will be held Oct. 14. An Air Force open house will be held near the Pentagon in conjunction with the dedication ceremony that will feature performances by the U.S. Air Force Band, the U.S. Air Force Honor Guard drill team, and a concert by country music performer LeeAnn Womack. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Gary R. Coppage)

Two B-2 Spirit bombers and four F-15E Strike Eagles are parked inside Hangar 1 at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, Aug. 6. The aircraft were moved into the hangar in preparation for a tropical storm that was expected to reach Guam that day. This was the first time the six aircraft had been parked in the hangar, proving to base officials that the hangar could accommodate the aircraft, and aiding in future tropical storm and typhoon planning. The two bombers are deployed to the 13th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron from the 509th Bomb Wing at Whiteman AFB, Mo. The fighters are deployed to the 90th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron from the 3rd Wing at Elmendorf AFB, Alaska. (U.S. Air Force photo illustration/Tech. Sgt. Mikal Canfield)

General Ronald E. Keys, Air Combat Command commander, said the Air Force is looking to get a next-generation long-range bomber by 2018. The command is funded for a new bomber, he said during his presentation Sept. 26 at the Air Force Association's Air & Space Conference and Technology Exposition in Washington D.C. Meanwhile, the current bomber fleet, including this B-2 Spirit, flying over the St. Louis Arch, will continue to be a mainstay in the war on terrorism. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Justin D. Pyle)

A B-2 Spirit and 16 other aircraft from the Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps fly over the USS Kitty Hawk, USS Ronald Reagan and USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike groups in the western Pacific Ocean on Sunday, June 18, to kick off Exercise Valiant Shield 2006. (U.S. Navy photo/Chief Photographer's Mate Todd P. Cichonowicz)