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Despite these clear explanations, conspiracy theories persist, often referencing conflicts such as the NATO bombing campaign over Serbia or hypothetical encounters with advanced air defense systems. These stories typically rely on anonymous sources, misinterpreted radar anecdotes, or recycled misinformation. None have been substantiated by declassified documents, satellite imagery, pilot testimony, or allied intelligence agencies. In the world of modern military aviation, such a loss would be impossible to conceal indefinitely.
The reason these rumors endure lies partly in the mystique surrounding the B-2 Spirit itself. The aircraft was engineered specifically to avoid detection and destruction. Its distinctive flying-wing design drastically reduces radar cross-section, eliminating vertical surfaces that typically reflect radar signals. Advanced radar-absorbing materials coat the aircraft, converting incoming radar energy into heat rather than reflected signals. On radar screens, the B-2 can appear no larger than a bird, making reliable tracking exceptionally difficult.
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