All’s Well That Bombs Well

The Northrop B-2 has finally bombed . . . a target. The controversial bomber dropped its first bomb Friday at Edwards Air Force Base, the Pentagon announced. The milestone came 11 years and $30 billion after development of the aircraft began in 1981.

Northrop pilot Eric Hansen and Air Force Capt. Jeff Smith flew the test mission, during which a BDU-46 inert version of a nuclear bomb was released from the B-2’s weapons bay at an altitude of 22,500 feet.

The test apparently was meant to check that the bomb would properly release itself from the aircraft.

The Air Force did not say whether it hit any target, but the announcement noted that “officials were pleased.”