U.S. Air Force B-2 stealth bombers have departed from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri with aerial refuelling support from eight KC-135 Stratotankers.
The aircraft appear to be heading toward Diego Garcia, a strategic U.S. military base in the Indian Ocean.
Flight tracking data shows two groups of four tankers each linking up with the bombers over Kansas. The B-2 aircraft were using the callsign “MYTEE21,” which has previously been associated with stealth bomber missions.
The movement comes during a wider repositioning of U.S. military assets toward Europe and the Middle East. In recent weeks, dozens of American aircraft, including fighters, tankers, and surveillance platforms, have been deployed to the region. Two U.S. Navy supercarriers are also operating forward, along with other naval and air force elements.
The B-2 Spirit is designed for long-range strike missions and is capable of delivering both conventional and nuclear weapons. It is the only U.S. aircraft specifically designed to penetrate heavily defended targets such as underground facilities.
The presence of eight tankers supporting the mission indicates an extended-range operation. While the Department of Defense has not officially confirmed the destination or objective, the scale and coordination of the flight suggest a pre-planned deployment.
At present, there is no indication of an imminent strike. However, the timing of the movement is significant given the current tensions surrounding Iran’s nuclear programme and U.S. posture in the region.
The context
The B-2 Spirit is a long-range stealth bomber operated by the United States Air Force. It is designed to penetrate advanced air defense systems and deliver both conventional and nuclear weapons. The aircraft is capable of flying over 6,000 nautical miles without refuelling and can carry up to 40,000 pounds of ordnance internally. Its stealth profile allows it to evade radar detection, making it suitable for high-risk strike missions against well-defended targets. The B-2 has been in service since the late 1990s and plays a key role in long-range strategic operations.
The B-2 is equipped to carry the GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator, a heavy precision-guided bomb designed to destroy deeply buried targets. This 30,000-pound weapon can penetrate through layers of soil, rock, and reinforced concrete before detonating. The bomber can carry two of these munitions at a time, allowing it to engage fortified structures in a single sortie. This capability gives the B-2 a unique role in targeting underground facilities that are beyond the reach of conventional bombs or cruise missiles.
Several Iranian nuclear sites, including the Fordow facility, are located underground and protected by layers of reinforced material. These sites are believed to be beyond the reach of most air-delivered weapons, except for those carried by aircraft like the B-2.
There was me getting hopeful because the latest satellite images showed the B2’s were gone from Diego Garcia.
Suddenly the worlds most strategic military base has become a liability not an asset and moving the very few very delicate stealth bombers you have to an island within Irans ballistic missile envelope seems hubris at best.
Never thought I would be on the same side as Steve Bannon and Marjorie Taylor Greene and praying for TACOS
Amazing speed and reactions Jim, I’m guessing you have a new article notification audible indication device ?
“One Ping”.
Hi Jim, most of the open source intel including the congressional research service ( which is very well respected) would suggest the maximum possible range for the Iranian medium range missile program is around 2000km, because is based around a group of missiles with a length of 16-18 m, a diameter of 1.2 m, and an overall launch weight of 16,000- 23,600 kg which the energy density of liquid and solid fuels means at best a 2,000 km range..
Most of their medium range ballistic missiles are Shahab3 variants.. liquid fuel 16,000kg missiles based on NK tec, max range for most of these is 1200km they have a reduced payload increased range version that will hit almost 2000km.
Their best operational MRBM is the Sejjil, that’s a 23,600kg solid fuel, two stage sub orbital booster.. but it’s still only 1.25m diameter and 18m long for two stage sub orbit booster physics says that’s a 2000km missile.. some have speculated they may be able to stretch to 2400km with reduced payload..
But it’s way off the 3800km to DG
What Iran has been threatening is the Sejjil 3 programme.. this is a 3 stage version of the Sejjil that would get about a 4000km range making it an IRBM.. now Iran has been working on designing this..but no one has ever seen one and it’s never even yet got to the test fire phase.. so essentially Iran is almost certainly bluffing.. because if it had a 4000km range IRBM it would have test fired the thing as a deterrent to the US and European interference.
They’d have to hit something first.
I’d bet any missiles they fire at DG just plop in the ocean.
The Israelis are systematically dismantling Irans military with precision strikes and the Iranians have caused what damage to the IDF?
They fire into an area and hope they hit something.
Backward, just like the mighty Iraqis were shown to be in both Gulf Wars.
Well to be fair the estimated CEP is about 100m so they will hit something on DG in the broad sense, just not necessarily the thing they were aimed at… most of these systems genesis is in early Russian SRBMs and they were in reality designed as delivery vehicles for tactical nuclear weapons.. so accurate in the original designs was secondary.
Good summation, not sure I would wish to risk 1/3rd of my irreplaceable B2’s on hoping that Iran is not ready on a longer range missile however.
Seems almost criminal to have no hardened shelters on the island and very limited if any missile defence.
There are also other avenues open to Iran for attack purposes from small boats to drones.
If the US makes a move to attack Iran then Iran is entirely legally justified in attacking Diego Garcia. For all the bluster Iran isn’t actually in violation of any treaties including the NPT America has no legal right to attack them.
Pilling up the very small number of bombers that can carry the only weapon able to reach Irans enrichment facilities on a single island with very limited defence seems like Hubris.
I believe the US military faced a similar issue on another island in the middle of an ocean in 1941.
However this time history may not be so kind to America in terms of justification for the attack by the opponent.
Slightly off topic but actually rather interestingly related to each topic.
“We” are currently hurtling at break neck speed towards the magic 1,000,000th Comment mile stone figure (data collected using tools provided).
Looking forward to seeing the awards for, Best comments, Most active commentators, Most interactions, Most comments attracted, Best newcomer so on and so forth.
“There’s a whole World to explore out there and it’s calling you”.
I get the the award that counts… the award for the best award.
I think the USA will have to become involved- a huge and concerted B2 bomber raid to destroy and collapse Iran’s deeply buried nuclear facilities is the only way to ensure Iran’s nuclear weapon ambitions are curtailed for a while. I’m not a supporter of Israel but they are doing the West a favour here.
Without US B2 delivering the bunker busting MOP GBU-57’s the Iranian facilities damage in Israeli strikes albeit massive to surface infrastructure will not destroy the deep buried facilities. Within a few short years the facilities could be repaired and back up and running again.
Why can Iran never have a nuclear weapon? Just imagine the Houthis, Hamas or Hezbollah armed with nuclear weapons or Iran itself- they would categorically threaten Western friendly nations in the middle east and could theoretically supply Islamist terrorists to attack key Western cities, facilities or populations. It is frankly a threat we could really do without- we have enough problems with the enemy within- eg Lefties leaning stupidly towards supporting Islamist movements on the pretext of those poor people needing their support.
Israel is a tiny nation.
One nuke and its gone.
Iran, like Russia, at least has space.
To be honest when it comes to nation states and nuclear weapons space is overrated.. modern nation states exist because of cities and essential stop existing if their major cities do as well.. about 40% of the population of Iran lives in its 10 major cities.. it then has a further 8 minor cities with around half a million population.. remove those from the map and Iran stops being a nation..
It’s the same with Russia.. yes it’s big but it’s big with a whole lot of nothing.. remove 20 cities and you have essentially removed the Russian state.
With modern air and missile defences there can also be an advantage to being small and dense. Any nuclear weapon Iran develops will have to be able to get past Iron dome.
The only way to do that is with mass which means Iran will need a lot of nuclear weapons maybe hundreds and they will have to be more advanced than simple uranium fission weapons.
Israel can glass all of Iran when ever it sees fit and there is no technology on earth that can defend such a large target.
The UK can learn from this. Traditionally in a nuclear war our small size and dense population was a draw back but now it’s a positive. You could defend most of the populated areas in the uk with four to eight ABM systems.
Russia doesn’t have hundreds of weapons to throw at just the UK and the UK is too small to justify an arms race with.
Russia has its S500 providing ABM for Moscow so why can’t a UK version of SAMP/T with Aster 30 and 45 providing high altitude terminal intercept for London, the Midland’s, Central Scotland and the trans Pennine area. What’s to stop us just quietly buying hundreds if not thousands of missiles for the system without starting an arms race.
The whole cities matter in nuclear war is why China has an advantage.. it’s got 115ish cities with over 1 million populations the US I think has 10 essentially in a counter value exchange ( the type that will end a nuclear war) the U.S. would need to destroy 10 times more cities than china..
And remember to kill a city you airburst.. which is far less impactful from a fallout cloud.
If you really want to kill a city in a counter value exchange you ground detonate. Try and get as much radioactive debris over the areas as possible.
I do find the US posture interesting, because it’s all based around the massive build of threat that an enemy can do nothing about, essentially the I can hurt you when I like but you can do nothing to me.. this has worked very well for the last 35 years and is essentially inbuilt in the US geostrategic toolbox.
Now this if fine against a nation like Iran, but what will happen when it tries it again a nation like china.. a nation that can both reach out and touch the US in the most devastating way possible but is now essentially starting to be able to reach out touch any US base or asset anywhere with calibration.
Not only that china has a contrasting paridgm to the US and other nations like Russia or European nations, it does not seek to deter with over exaggerated claims like Iran and Russia or like the west deter with proven capabilities..it hides its capabilities behind shadows and plans for strategic surprise, because its looking alway at the most advantageous position to start a war of strategic surprise and essentially the 8 new type 93b SSNs means that china can attack any U.S. base and I’m pretty sure china would have not a single qualm about starting a war with a mass barrage against all of the US indo-pacific bases.
So the U.S. needs a new way in a new world as planting irreplaceable strategic assets in an exposed base would not be a deterrent to china it would be a red flag to a bull.. or an open vault door.
You do know those 8 new Type 93 SSNs aren’t even as quiet as a 1980s Akula or Switsurecclass SSN don’t you?
They are currently easily detected, easy to track and therefore easy to target.
Plus 8 “new” SSNs Vs 60+ USN proven technologically advanced subs of updated Los Angeles, Sea Wolf or Virginia class.
In the submarine warfare field the USN and allies have a gigantic technological advantage.
Don’t be in any doubt about that fact
Mr bell, they are at about the level of a flight 1 L.A.. and that is all they need..finding a flight one L.A. in the middle of the pacific or Indian Ocean is simply not happening. All they need to do is get lost in the great occeans.. because they have 2000km range cruise missiles..
Yes they would struggle to penetrate a modern western ASW screen.. but let’s be clear as well a flight 1 L.A. could it just risks destruction doing it. But they will not go any where near an ASW screen they will hide mid occean ans they will strike strategic targets from 2000km away..or attack less protected surface targets..all. While sucking US resources away from the core battle.
China has far more resources numbers wise than the U.S it was only missing the bit that allowed it to move strategic threats across the globe.. so spreading the smaller number of US resources.
One of the major issues is that the US certainly has the capability to find them in the pacific if not track them and they might stand out like a sore thumb in the Atlantic but the US has little if any assets to track such submarines in the Indian Ocean.
Hi Mr Bell numbers matter as does trajectory and industrial capacity and from a geographic point of view the US is getting on the wrong end of it..
So let’s just take SSN tec first.. now as I said a type 93B is about as quite as a flight one L.A. or a victor 3.. but and this is a very very big but.. it has a duel reactor, that means twice the reactor noise, but essentially they have managed to get a duel reactor SSN down to the same silencing as a flight one L.A…. Just cogitate on what that means for their wider silencing tec.. their rafting and their tiles are good.
The very last thing holding them back was they could not get decent energy density out of their reactors.. their second generation reactors were essentially giving 75MW when you need 150-200MW for a 7000ton, 30knt SSN. Sadly for the balance of world power the Russians handed them the design for a portable 200MW reactor and china has now built on that an produced an SSN sized 200MW reactor that they are putting in the type 95.. which most people believe they have now laid down.. everyone that knows is pretty sure that the type 95 will be at the standard of an improved Akula or even a Virginia.. ( they have after all made a functional threat from a duel reactor SSN) .
As for numbers.. they have build the most extensive and modern nuclear submarine production plant in the world.. it’s a masterpiece of mass production ( yes mass production of SSNs).. it has 20 bays for laying down and assembly of nuclear boats.. it has separate small module construction bays ( 5-6 units) and 5-6 large module construction bays as well as 2 reactor bays.. as well as a quieting and paining bay.. so the small and large modular construction bays feed the Modules into the 20 assembly bays.. the two reactor bays then feed in the reactors and finally when the sub is completed it’s goes through the quieting and paining bay and is launched.. this set up has launched 8 subs in 2.5 years and it’s not slowing down..infact worse case predictions are it could hit 6-8 per year.. on top of that it has 2 AIP sun yards that’s can knock out a couple of electric boats a year. The U.S. has been managing around 1.2 per year and is not actually able to replace its loss rates.. and so at about 2028 will be down to 41 SSNs.. at a time china will be approaching the high 70s in its submarine force.
By 2030 the US will need to consider
16 SSNs that can go anywhere hide and strike with 2000km range cruises
6 Slightly shit SSNs that will still need tracking and hunting down in the vast occeans of the indo pacific
40+ electric boats
6-8 SSBNs to keep track of
To manage that it will have just over 40 SSNs
If china keeps cracking on and it flips to the Type 95 after 16 type 93bs.. by the mid 2035s china would have a very very potent SSN force
16 type 93bs
16-20 type 95s
40ish modern AIP even possibly auxiliary nuclear powered electric boats.
Z
In other news Bahrain, Qatar, Brazil, India, Hungary and Mauritius are all attending the St Petersburg Economic Forum where Putin has said ‘Ukraine is ours’.