US$2.2 Bn B2 bombers grounded since Guam crash - B1 bomber burnt out on landing in Qatar.

The US$2.2 Billion B-2 Spirit of Kansas crashed on Feb. 23 at Anderson Air Force Base, Guam . It had logged more than 5,000 flight hours and 1,036 sorties before Feb. 23, and it was "renowned in the maintenance community for being a great jet," said Col. Bob Dulong, the 509th Maintenance Group commander. The wreckage is still there and being examined.

It was the first of the 21 nuclear bombers that has 2 drivers to crash in 20 years. Amazingly out of 14,000 sorties, and 17,000 logged flying hours the B-2 has only flown 100 combat sorties over Kosovo, Iraq, and Afghanistan and can carry a bomb load of 22 tons max. say, two hundred 250 pound SDB smart bombs

Since Spirit of Kansas crashed , B-2's haven't flown. One report says they are ready to fly instantly although at any time 5 of the planes are not available because of maintenance / uprating etc.,

On Friday a B1 Lancer bomber landing Al-Udeid Air Base , Qatar caught fire at the end of the runway after taxi-ing and some munitions exploded. The crew evacuated safely.