A B-2 Spirit prepares to be refueled by a KC-135R Stratotanker during a nighttime aerial refueling mission over Southern Kansas, Oct. 21, 2015. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Benjamin Mota)
The United States is deploying B-2 Spirit stealth strategic bombers to the Pacific island of Guam, Reuters reported on June 21, citing two U.S. officials.
One of the officials told the news agency no forward orders had been given yet to move the bombers beyond the military base on Guam.
The officials who spoke to Reuters didn’t say how many bombers were being moved. However, aviation observers said that at least six took off from Whiteman Air Force Base in the state of Missouri. The number was later confirmed by Fox News, which also cited U.S. officials.
The deployment came amid rising tensions between the U.S. and Iran, as President Trump is reported to be considering joining an attack launched by Israel earlier in the month to cripple the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program.
The B-2, which features low-observable stealth technology, was especially designed to penetrate dense air defense networks. The bomber can also deploy the GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator, a 14-ton precision-guided bunker buster bomb that can penetrate over 60 meters of fortifications.
Due to these capabilities, the B-2 is considered essential to any U.S. attack on Iran’s underground nuclear facilities, like the Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant.
Click to see full-size image.
While the U.S. could move the B-2s forward to a U.S.-British military base on the Indian Ocean island of Diego Garcia before an attack on Iran, this may not be all that necessary. The bombers could fly directly from Guam and attack Fordow with full payload then return to Diego Garcia with the help of aerial tankers.
It’s worth noting that the U.S. had some six B-2s deployed at Diego Garcia last month. This was seen as a measure to pressure Iran at the time. However, it may have been an exercise.
Trump has already given Iran a two-week ultimation to “unconditionally surrender.” Yet, with the Israeli attack stalling and recent reports indicating that Tehran rejected direct talks with Washington, the U.S. could move on with military plans much faster.
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