What is the B-2 Spirit? Multi-role strategic bomber makes delayed flyover at halftime of Rose Bowl game; watch video

Fans at the Rose Bowl game witnessed a B-2 Spirit on Thursday afternoon (January 1, 2026) after it made a delayed appearance in Pasadena, California. The Northrop B-2 Spirit from Whiteman Air Force Base in Knob Noster, Missouri, usually part of the parade and pre-game festivities, gave a celebratory flyover.

According to reports, the flyover at the 137th Rose Parade in Pasadena was delayed after the stealth bomber was grounded earlier in the day due to the weather following a storm that delivered rain in the region.

Departing from its traditional flyovers, the B-2 made a striking appearance against a cloudy sky and the mountains of Southern California at the Rose Bowl, concluding halftime before Alabama and Indiana returned to the field.





Top-seeded Indiana delivered a stunning statement on college football’s biggest stage, crushing ninth-seeded Alabama 38-3 in the College Football Playoff quarterfinal.

What is the B-2 Spirit?

The B-2 Spirit is a multi-role bomber capable of delivering both conventional and nuclear munitions. The bomber represents a major milestone in the U.S. bomber modernization program. The strategic bomber brings massive firepower to bear, in a short time, anywhere on the globe through previously impenetrable defenses.

The stealth bomber provides flexibility and effectiveness inherent in manned bombers. Its low-observable, or "stealth," characteristics give it the unique ability to penetrate an enemy's most sophisticated defenses and threaten its most valued and heavily defended targets. Its capability to penetrate air defenses and threaten effective retaliation provides a strong, effective deterrent and combat force well into the 21st century.