The B-2 and the limits of human biology in modern warfare

(Dan Tri) - Behind the B-2 pilots' nearly 2-day non-stop combat flights is a whole system of biological optimization, biological rhythms and technological coordination to maintain the highest level of mental performance.

When seven B‑2 Spirit stealth bombers took off from Whiteman Air Force Base (Missouri, USA), carrying heavy penetrator bombs aimed at Iran's Fordo underground nuclear complex, the remarkable factor lay not only in the weapon's capabilities but also in the biological and psychological limits that humans can overcome in a modern combat environment.

The 37-hour mission subjected US pilots to extreme biological stress, with partial microgravity, pressurized cabins and long non-stop work hours. It is a prime example of the ability to maintain mental and psychological performance during long-duration flight.

Previously, in 2001, the US Air Force carried out a 44-hour mission with two B-2 pilots flying nonstop from Missouri to Afghanistan, conducting two precision bombing runs before landing at Diego Garcia base in the Indian Ocean. This was one of the longest continuous manned flight records in modern military aviation history.

Such missions not only demonstrate the capabilities of aviation technology but also provide valuable data on the limits of human physiology in the context of warfare using stealth, high precision and endurance platforms.

Pilot's biological "marathon" in the sky

Before such missions, B‑2 pilots typically train in flight simulators for 24 to 30 hours straight, with environments that mimic target sites like Fordo, a complex buried deep in a mountain to withstand conventional attacks, according to an analysis by The New York Times .

A B-2 Spirit stealth bomber at Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri, US after the attack on Iran's nuclear facilities (Photo: Reuters).

However, no model is enough to accurately recreate the real-life pressures of an interplanetary combat mission, where even the slightest mistake could expose the stealth aircraft and put the entire mission in jeopardy.

In the days leading up to the flight, flight physiologists and circadian rhythm experts begin to intervene. They adjust sleep patterns, synchronizing pilots with new biological clocks to match the time zone and flight schedule.

Even sleeping pills are prescribed in advance to ensure deep sleep – a crucial factor in accumulating energy for a task that lasts nearly twice as long as a person's normal sleep/wake cycle.

Sleep, eat and… pee: All the activities inside the cabin of the $2.2 billion machine

Despite its impressive size, the B‑2 Spirit stealth bomber devotes most of its bays to weapons storage. The cabin is modest in size, not much larger than the compartment of a medium-sized truck.

There was generally enough space for only two pilot seats, a fold-down bed in the back, a makeshift toilet, and a small heater to heat food. Inside, privacy was virtually nonexistent. There were no soundproof rooms or curtains.

There, privacy sometimes meant turning away while a comrade was using the restroom, as retired Lt. Col. Melvin Deaile once described.

Interior of the B-2 aircraft cockpit (Photo: Unconventional).

To stay healthy, pilots are advised to drink one bottle of water per hour, which equates to more than 30 bottles of water per mission. But this comes with the consequence that excretion needs must be extremely carefully controlled.

In fact, B-2 pilots will use specialized urine bags – similar to Ziploc bags, containing desiccants, similar to those found in dog and cat litter bags. Using the toilet is only done in “emergency” situations, due to the limited space and capacity.

Pilots' meals typically consisted of turkey sandwiches, beef jerky, sunflower seeds, and other snacks that did not require heating, were not filling, and were easily digested in sedentary conditions.

Sitting in the cabin for long periods of time slows down the pilot's digestion. Therefore, food rations must be calculated according to the minimum energy requirements to avoid feeling heavy or sleepy after eating.

Sleep and psychology are adjusted to suit special biological rhythms.

During the flight, pilots alternate between 3–5 hours of sleep while the other pilot flies the aircraft. However, due to the constant flashing lights, engine noise, and pressure of the mission, getting the right amount of shut-eye is extremely difficult without assistance.

So they use military-prescribed low-dose amphetamine pills to maintain alertness in a controlled manner, under strict medical supervision.

“We don’t take drugs to stay awake – we take them to survive mentally,” said Melvin Deaile, a pilot who participated in the record-breaking 44-hour mission in 2001.

There, each flight mission lasting more than 30 hours is a test of the human body's ability to regulate biological rhythms, separate emotions, eliminate anxiety, and manage life energy as an automatic operating system.

Inside the plane, pilots go through a real mental battle, where even one mistake can affect the battle plan (Photo: TWZ).

The psychological stress of the B‑2 pilot peaks at the moment of bomb release. According to General Steven Basham (quoted from The New York Times ), each time the bomb bay is opened, it changes the aerodynamic configuration of the B‑2, thereby increasing its radar cross section (RCS), making the aircraft more vulnerable to enemy surveillance systems.

Although the B‑2 is designed with stealth technology, it is not a completely “invisible” vehicle. Therefore, every control maneuver, from altitude changes to bomb release rate, must be performed with high precision in timing and amplitude to maintain relative stealth against multi-band radar systems.

The simultaneous release of approximately 27.2 tons of bombs caused an instantaneous change in the mass and center of gravity of the aircraft, creating a distinct feeling of lift. This is a common phenomenon in flight physics, requiring pilots to be able to control their body's reactions and precise technical reflexes to stabilize the flight trajectory immediately.

During the return journey, the pilot continued to face neuro-motor impairment due to lack of sleep, stress and reduced oxygen circulation in the pressurized cabin. The aerial refueling process, despite extensive training, is a high-risk operation, requiring precise coordination between two aircraft at speeds of hundreds of kilometers per hour.

Small deviations in shaft alignment can cause fueling failure or hull collision risk.

For a 37-hour flight, each B‑2 typically has to make 6–7 mid-air refuelings, consuming a total of about 317.5 tons of JP‑8 fuel – a specialized aviation fuel with high calorific value and good pressure resistance.

Ultimately, the deciding factor in mission success lies not only in stealth technology, inertial navigation systems or the accuracy of guided weapons, but also in the ability to perfectly integrate human factors and technology.

B‑2 pilots are not just operators, but central components in a combat ecosystem that integrates biology, combat psychology and modern aviation technology.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/khoa-hoc/may-bay-b-2-va-gioi-han-sinh-hoc-con-nguoi-trong-chien-tranh-hien-dai-20250625100058491.htm