The darkness before the dawn
Three B-2 Spirit Bombers prepare for flight at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., April 25, 2013. Also known as the Stealth Bomber, the aircraft is a strategic bomber, featuring low-observable stealth technology designed for penetrating dense anti-aircraft defenses. The bomber has a crew of two and can drop up to eighty 500-pound joint direct attack munitions (JDAMS). The B-2 is the only aircraft that can carry large air-to-surface standoff weapons in a stealth configuration. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Staff Sgt. Alexandra M. Boutte/Released)