Despite being over 40 years old, the distinctive bat-like design of the B-2 stealth bomber continues to serve as a powerful symbol of American military strength. This aircraft is currently the sole bomber in the US arsenal capable of deploying the massive GBU-57 bunker-busting bomb, which experts believe is the only conventional weapon capable of destroying Iran's underground Fordow nuclear facility from the air.

President Donald Trump recently confirmed that the US conducted airstrikes on Fordow, as well as two other sites in Natanz and Isfahan. He stated that all aircraft involved in the mission returned safely to base.

According to a US official who requested anonymity, multiple B-2 bombers were utilized in these strikes. Since its introduction in the late 1990s, the B-2 has become a key component of the US strategic bomber fleet. Most notably, in October 2024, several B-2s operated from a RAAF base in northern Australia to conduct operations against Houthi militants in Yemen, targeting fortified weapons storage facilities.

Even after nearly three decades in service, the B-2 still holds the record for the longest air combat mission in history. This occurred in 2001 when the aircraft named Spirit of America departed from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri and flew to Afghanistan alongside five other B-2s on a 44-hour mission.