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CNN Live Saturday

A Look at B-2 Stealth Bomber

Aired November 02, 2002 - 18:20   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: As we mentioned earlier in the program, Iraq was testing its air raid sirens today, just in case. It was the first such test in Baghdad in months. The Iraqi government has been telling residents that they could come under a U.S. attack. Now if that happens, it's a safe bet that B-2 Stealth Bombers stationed in Missouri would be in the first wave of assaults. CNN's senior Pentagon correspondent Jamie McIntyre has more now on the B-2.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JAMIE MCINTYRE, CNN SENIOR PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Once maligned as a $2 billion boondoggle that couldn't operate in the rain, the bat-winged B-2 Stealth Bomber is flying high these days having proven its mettle in two wars.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You can fly basically anywhere on the planet as demonstrated in Kosovo and Afghanistan and put munitions on target on time.

MCINTYRE: In fact, a year ago a B-2 set a combat aviation record, flying the longest non-stop bombing mission ever from Missouri to Afghanistan before eventually landing in Diego Garcia after more than 44 hours.

MCINTYRE (on camera): There are only 21 B-2 bombers in the Air Force inventory, all of them based here at Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri, but despite their small numbers, they pack an explosive punch, which makes them the weapon of choice for the opening days of an air campaign.

(voice-over): Each B-2 can deliver 16 satellite guided bombs to 16 separate targets. That's crucial to the U.S. strategy to deliver a demoralizing initial attack in any war against Iraq.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We can go farther than most other aircraft and deliver a payload the size of -- the equivalent of a squadron of F-16s with fantastic precision and we can do it without anybody even knowing we're going there.

MCINTYRE: While its long range and heavy payload may give the B- 2 bragging rights, its combat effectiveness in a major war with Iraq depends on it being closer to the fight.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We still look at the long range sortie as a valuable asset. The forward deploying allows us to turn a lot more sorties. MCINTYRE: But the B-2 can't be based just anywhere. Its radar absorbing skin has to be restored in climate-controlled maintenance areas, so the U.S. is erecting special $2.5 million portable shelters in both Fairford (ph), England, and at the British base in Diego Garcia.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The jet does have some maintenance requirements to keep it low observable, as we say, but we'll have all the elements in place, you know, anywhere we need to go around the world if we need to forward deploy.

MCINTYRE: Pentagon sources say deployment of the B-2s to the region is not imminent, another signal that war with Iraq is still months away, and while the pilots at Whiteman are not spoiling for a fight, they are ready.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No professional airman wants to fight in a war but if the country calls upon you or you're tasked to do so, then no warrior wants to stay home.

MCINTYRE: Jamie McIntyre CNN, Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com






Aired November 2, 2002 - 18:20   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: As we mentioned earlier in the program, Iraq was testing its air raid sirens today, just in case. It was the first such test in Baghdad in months. The Iraqi government has been telling residents that they could come under a U.S. attack. Now if that happens, it's a safe bet that B-2 Stealth Bombers stationed in Missouri would be in the first wave of assaults. CNN's senior Pentagon correspondent Jamie McIntyre has more now on the B-2.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JAMIE MCINTYRE, CNN SENIOR PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Once maligned as a $2 billion boondoggle that couldn't operate in the rain, the bat-winged B-2 Stealth Bomber is flying high these days having proven its mettle in two wars.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You can fly basically anywhere on the planet as demonstrated in Kosovo and Afghanistan and put munitions on target on time.

MCINTYRE: In fact, a year ago a B-2 set a combat aviation record, flying the longest non-stop bombing mission ever from Missouri to Afghanistan before eventually landing in Diego Garcia after more than 44 hours.

MCINTYRE (on camera): There are only 21 B-2 bombers in the Air Force inventory, all of them based here at Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri, but despite their small numbers, they pack an explosive punch, which makes them the weapon of choice for the opening days of an air campaign.

(voice-over): Each B-2 can deliver 16 satellite guided bombs to 16 separate targets. That's crucial to the U.S. strategy to deliver a demoralizing initial attack in any war against Iraq.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We can go farther than most other aircraft and deliver a payload the size of -- the equivalent of a squadron of F-16s with fantastic precision and we can do it without anybody even knowing we're going there.

MCINTYRE: While its long range and heavy payload may give the B- 2 bragging rights, its combat effectiveness in a major war with Iraq depends on it being closer to the fight.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We still look at the long range sortie as a valuable asset. The forward deploying allows us to turn a lot more sorties. MCINTYRE: But the B-2 can't be based just anywhere. Its radar absorbing skin has to be restored in climate-controlled maintenance areas, so the U.S. is erecting special $2.5 million portable shelters in both Fairford (ph), England, and at the British base in Diego Garcia.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The jet does have some maintenance requirements to keep it low observable, as we say, but we'll have all the elements in place, you know, anywhere we need to go around the world if we need to forward deploy.

MCINTYRE: Pentagon sources say deployment of the B-2s to the region is not imminent, another signal that war with Iraq is still months away, and while the pilots at Whiteman are not spoiling for a fight, they are ready.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No professional airman wants to fight in a war but if the country calls upon you or you're tasked to do so, then no warrior wants to stay home.

MCINTYRE: Jamie McIntyre CNN, Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com