It seems that B-2 Spirit bombers have the capability to sink surface ships. In July, an Air Force B-2 Spirit stealth bomber released a guided bomb and sank an empty cargo vessel in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Florida. The Air Force stated that this provides a low-cost, air-delivered method for defeating surface vessels. The Air Force only has 19 extremely expensive and valuable B-2s in service, and they provide the service with unique capabilities to carry out deep penetration strikes.