The US Air Force maintains the most capable fleet of strategic bombers in the world, empowering the US military to deliver rapid, lethal force to adverse situations and to help allies in need.

The B-2 Spirit

The B-2 Spirit stealth bomber is designed to penetrate dense anti-aircraft defenses and is capable of delivering both conventional and thermonuclear munitions.

The 34-year-old bomber was a generation ahead of its time. The materials coating the aircraft, combined with the shape of the airframe and engine inlets, render it virtually "invisible" to radar and other sensors.

The bomber can drop conventional and thermonuclear weapons, such as up to 80 230kg class MK-82 Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) Global Positioning System (GPS)-guided bombs, or 16 1,100kg B83 nuclear bombs.

It can perform ultra-high-altitude attack missions at up to 15,000 meters, has an unrefueled range of more than 11,000km and can fly more than 19,000km with one midair refueling.

There are an estimated 20 B-2s in service, which the Air Force plans to operate until 2032, when it will replace them with the B-21 Raider.

The Stratofortress

The US Air Force's legacy B-52H Stratofortress is a long-range, jet-powered strategic heavy bomber capable of flying at high subsonic speeds and altitudes of up to 15,240 meters.

The B-52 family of bombers recently marked its 70th birthday, and it has served in every US conflict since Vietnam.

The Stratofortress can perform a variety of missions, including strategic attack, close-air support, air interdiction, and offensive counter-air and maritime operations, according to the Air Force.

The bomber can carry a 31,751kg payload with a combat range of 14,162km without aerial refueling.

It can utilize various ordnance, including precision-guided weapons.

The US Air Force operates 76 B-52s.

The B-1B

With a range of 9,500km, a top speed of Mach 1.25 and the largest payload capacity in the US Air Force inventory, the B-1B Lancer is the "backbone" of America's long-range bomber force.

Known as the "Bone," the B-1B holds about 50 world records for speed, payload, range and time of climb in its class and is designed to penetrate air defenses at very low altitudes at very high speeds.

The B-1B is capable of carrying up to 34,000kg of ordnance in three internal weapon bays that can be loaded with a variety of weapons. It has a maximum takeoff weight of 216,363kg.

The US Air Force maintains 45 B-1B bombers.