The B-2 stealth bomber had truly suffered from poor timing. As it neared the end of its secretive development, the Cold War was already drawing to a close. Just months after its first flight in 1989, the Berlin Wall fell. This cutting-edge weapon, designed to counter the Soviet threat, suddenly seemed to lack a purpose.
With the collapse of the Soviet Union, the U.S. military found itself with one of the world's most expensive bombers, capable of massive strategic strikes—yet with no clear adversary. They had spent over $40 billion on these golden "super bombers," only to find there was nowhere to use them.
Still, the B-2 had already been built, and the military accepted it into service in December 1993. Since it missed the First Gulf War, it had not seen combat and quickly attracted criticism from various quarters (mainly from Lockheed, bitter over losing the contract). Some even claimed it was a glorified paperweight, as it hadn't gone through extensive testing in combat scenarios.
This criticism continued until 1999, during the Kosovo conflict. That was when the B-2 was finally deployed in combat, performing flawlessly and proving its worth. Notably, it completed its missions while the F-117, a stealth fighter bomber designed by Lockheed, was shot down (to the satisfaction of its rivals). The B-2 was finally vindicated.
Yet the bomber was notoriously delicate. On February 23, 2008, the "Spirit of Kansas" crashed at Guam's airbase due to a moisture-compromised airspeed sensor. This sensor caused an inaccurate airspeed reading on the instrument panel, leading the pilots to attempt takeoff too early. Seventeen seconds later, the aircraft stalled and crashed, costing over $2 billion.
This tragic incident highlighted the B-2's reliance on highly advanced electronic components. When Castle provided Northrop Grumman with a semi-automated flight control system initially designed for drones, it only made sense for them to consider whether this technology could be adapted for manned aircraft, especially the B-2.
Northrop had conducted preliminary tests using Castle's system on other aircraft, but they wanted the designer himself to evaluate its feasibility on the B-2. Additionally, they hoped he might apply the engine upgrade technology he'd given Pratt & Whitney to improve their strategic bomber fleet. This was why Mark reached out, inviting Castle to Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri to assess the B-2s in the 509th Bomb Wing.
After reviewing the information, Castle understood why Northrop was eager to work with him. His memory recalled that in March 2011, the 509th Bomb Wing at Whiteman was scheduled for a high-stakes mission to North Africa. This operation, known as "Operation Odyssey Dawn," involved a 12-hour round-trip flight to bomb Colonel Gaddafi's airfields in Libya, paving the way for NATO's no-fly zone.
It was currently late October 2010. Did this mean Northrop and the military were already preparing for the mission five months in advance?
Castle was conflicted. If he wasn't in the middle of planning his counteroffensive against the 'Roxette' organization, he would have accepted Mark's request without hesitation. After all, this was the B-2—more formidable than both the B-1B Lancer and the Russian Tu-160 White Swan.
Having a chance to see this stealth bomber up close, and possibly even upgrade it, was an extraordinary opportunity.
Castle, however, faced a dilemma: he was about to execute a preemptive strike on 'Roxette' before they could enact their plans against him. Going to Whiteman Air Force Base would mean a significant time commitment, possibly delaying his offensive against the group.
Should he pass up this rare opportunity to interact with one of the military's most advanced aircraft, or postpone dealing with 'Roxette'?
After some deliberation, Castle decided to accept the invitation. 'Roxette' wasn't going anywhere, and even if they were ready to make their move, would they dare come after him in a secure military environment like Whiteman? This trip wasn't just a personal favor for Mark; it came directly from Northrop's board. Castle could use this opportunity to build relationships with military officials—a valuable advantage.
With his smart glasses and wristband, he could stay connected to Jarvis and oversee his contingency plans against 'Roxette' remotely. There was no reason not to go.
Castle told his assistant that he'd take him along to Missouri for the B-2 evaluation, and his assistant was ecstatic. After all, the B-2 was one of the most top-secret assets in the U.S. arsenal, possibly rivaled only by the SR-91 Aurora. This was a massive thrill for his assistant.
Meanwhile, Ramsey's younger sister, who was more interested in coding than aircraft, had little reaction to being left behind. She was fine with Castle taking only her tech-savvy brother, especially since her interests lay more in computers and software than hardware or weaponry.
While preparing for the trip, Castle secretly instructed Jarvis to continue collecting intel on 'Roxette,' intending to discreetly relay these findings to the incoming president, Benjamin. With the new administration in place, Benjamin could use the exposure of the 'Roxette' organization as a powerful first move to assert authority, sending a clear message to anyone in government who might challenge his leadership.
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I Am Zeus, KING OF GODS (Chapter 79)
Fairy Tail: Igneel's Eldest Son (Chapter 391)
I Am Thalos, Odin's Older Brother (Chapter 471)
Reborn in America's Anti-Terror Unit (Chapter 677)
Solomon in Marvel (Chapter 1059)
Becoming the Wealthiest Tycoon on the Planet (Chapter 1418)
Surgical Fruit in the American Comics Universe (Chapter 1422)
American Detective: From TV Rookie to Seasoned Cop (Chapter 1452)
American TV Writer (Chapter 1504)
I Am Hades, The Supreme GOD of the Underworld!(Chapter 570)
Reborn as Humanity's Emperor Across the Multiverse (Chapter 703)
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