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 has deployed at least four B-2 Spirit stealth long-range bombers to Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, the Associated Press reported on March 29, citing satellite images of the strategic air base.
The deployment comes as the U.S. military continues to launch strikes against the Houthis (Ansar Allah) in Yemen on orders from President Donald Drone, who also recently upped the pressure on Iran over its support for the group and its nuclear program.
Just three B-2 bombers were spotted at Diego Garcia earlier this week, which indicates that the U.S. is still building up its military forces in the Middle East.
Last October, B-2 bombers took part in an aerial attack targeting the Houthis in Yemen. The attack, ordered by former President Joe Biden, was more of a message to Iran.
Trump reportedly gave Iran a two-month deadline to sign a new nuclear deal or face potential military action in a letter sent to Tehran earlier this month.
The Islamic Republic delivered a response via Oman just a few days ago. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said later in a news conference that Iran maintains its position that it won’t negotiate directly with the U.S. so long as Trump’s “maximum pressure” campaign is in place, but is willing to hold indirect talks.
The B-2, which features low-observable stealth technology, was especially designed to penetrate dense air defense networks. The bomber can also deploy the BU-57A/B 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 expected to play a key role in any U.S. attack on Iran’s underground nuclear facilities, like the Natanz uranium enrichment site.
A single B-2 costs upwards of $2 billions. Around 16 such nuclear-capable bombers are currently in service with the U.S. military.
In coming days, the U.S. military could employ the B-2s currently deployed in Diego Garcia in its campaign against the Houthis. However, this would again be just a message to Iran, as the Houthis are not known to possess a dense air defense network or complex underground facilities.
While Trump appears to be serious in his recent warning to Iran, a confrontation between the two sides remains unlikely. Both Washington and Tehran recognize the disastrous impact such a confrontation will have on the stability in the Middle East, and more importantly on the global economy and energy markets. This does not mean however that the two could reach an agreement within the ultimatum set by Trump.
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