B-2 Reaches full operational status.. After 10 years??

B-2 Reaches Full Operational Capability

(Source: US Air Force; issued Dec. 19, 2003)

WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. — The B-2 Spirit reached full operational capability status, Lt. Gen. Bruce Carlson announced Dec. 17 during a ceremony here. The event was marked by the Spirit of Missouri’s re-enactment of its first delivery here 10 years ago.

“The B-2 Spirit is combat-proven. It’s now officially fully operational,” said Carlson, 8th Air Force commander. “It does everything we wanted it to — and then some.”

The capability status is the ultimate milestone in the development of any new weapon system, signifying fulfillment of the original requirements for the equipment, officials said.

“As we’ve heard, during the 10-year journey to fully operational capability status, the B-2 Spirit flew and fought in three major theater conflicts,” Carlson said.

Deploying the aircraft forward for Operation Iraqi Freedom showed the full development of the B-2 team, Carlson said.

“The B-2 shelters, along with a sophisticated sustainment system, made that possible,” he said. “Those shelters provided the critical support needed to maintain them. Thanks to all of you here who helped turn this requirement into a reality.”

The latest chapter in the history of this base and the history of military aviation began with the arrival of the B-2, said U.S. Congressman Ike Skelton.

“The B-2 changed the calculation of the number of planes per target to the number of targets per plane,” Skelton said.

~~~~

Is this to do with the capabilities being tested a few weeks ago? i mean the ability to hit several different targets using smart munitions?

What does fully operational mean ? It cant be to do with the number of aircraft now flying because the report talks more about its abilities.