Latest news with #stealthbombers
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
For B-21, Quantity Is Its Most Critical Quality Top Bomber Officer Says
For all the new capabilities the B-21 Raider will bring as an individual aircraft, the U.S. Air Force's top bomber officer says he is most excited about the sheer numbers of those aircraft that are set to enter service in the coming years. The Operation Midnight Hammer strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities underscored how vital existing B-2 stealth bombers are to U.S. national security, but also the inherent limitations imposed by how few of them were ever built. Air Force Maj. Gen. Jason Armagost touched on the B-21 and related topics during an online talk that the Air & Space Forces Association's Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies hosted today. Armagost is the commander of the Eighth Air Force, to which the Air Force's current B-2, B-1, and B-52 bombers are all assigned, as well as the officer in charge of the Joint-Global Strike Operations Center (J-GSOC) at Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana. At present, the Air Force plans to acquire at least 100 B-21s, but senior U.S. military officials have been increasingly advocating for a fleet of 145 of the bombers. A single pre-production Raider is now in flight testing, with a second expected to join it soon. At least four other B-21s are in various stages of production, and a number of non-flying airframes are being used to support ongoing test work. The Raider is expected to eventually replace the Air Force's current fleet of 19 B-2 bombers, as well as its more than 40 remaining B-1s. 'So, the B 21, … it's in flight test now, it's a phenomenal capability,' Maj. Gen. Armagost said today. In 'the job prior to this … I was interacting with acquisition, RCO [the Air Force Rapid Capbilities Office], and Northrop Grumman in how we work together to drive the concepts, drive the requirements, drive the fielding and the manufacture, actually, of this airplane, so that it can become something different when we have it in numbers.' 'That's what I'm most excited about,' he continued. 'Sixth-generation stealth brings with it, it brings its own set of pretty amazing capabilities, but what I'm most excited about is the ability to build a campaign force.' In addition to its advanced broadband low-observable (stealthy) characteristics, the B-21 is expected to have an extremely long unrefueled range enabled by a highly efficient airframe optimized for high-altitude flight and advanced engines. This will notably impact the demand for aerial refueling tanker support during operations. As TWZ often points out, the B-21 will really be more than just a bomber with its extensive suite of networking, battle management, electronic warfare, and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities. The Raider could act as an aerial controller for uncrewed platforms in the future, too. The B-21 is smaller than the existing B-2, and will carry less ordnance per sortie as a result. The Raider is also not exquisite in all ways, with the design understood to be a balance between proven technology, as well as evolutionary and revolutionary developments, to create a capable platform that is affordable and sustainable. Keeping to schedule and cost targets has been a central focus of the program from the beginning. 'If we get our numerical force build-out correct, which is always going to be a thing we have to be concerned about, we can build a campaign tempo. We can build diversity of munitions and options for attack. We can build out a range of capabilities that not only hold one theater at risk in conflict, but can be a ready force available if there's … [other] things that are taking place around the globe,' he explained. 'I think it really does involve a diverse set of capabilities that are able to access contested or denied space together in different ways. And actually, the different ways piece is very important, and it requires adversaries to rethink their investments or be punished for the investments they have made, and how they try and deny airspace or deny our access to an airspace.' As part of this discussion, Armagost briefly highlighted the forthcoming F-47 sixth-generation stealth fighter as another important component of that future 'campaign force.' The B-21 is itself just one part of a larger Long-Range Strike (LRS) family of systems, details about which remain heavily classified, as you can learn more about here. The best known other element of the LRS ecosystem is the still-in-development nuclear-armed and stealthy Long Range Stand Off (LRSO) cruise missile. Armagost also used Operation Midnight Hammer as a real-world metric for the scale and scope of future missions he is envisioning. 'We got a lot of attention, I would say, for seven [B-2] aircraft, 14 aviators, flying a global power mission for hours and hours, right? But what goes past that is that there were 125 aircraft involved in that [Operation Midnight Hammer]. There was a global push to really make that happen in a way that showed we can access in ways that are surprising and interesting,' he said. 'All of that tracks into that moment where that [deeply buried hardened targets like Iran's nuclear facilities] can be now held at risk with assurance, with real predictability. And so it does go beyond that kind of, that flash moment of 14 aviators and seven airplanes, in that case, back to the system that is built that makes that possible. It really does involve a system of systems, and we can't assume that that is going to be a given.' To reiterate, the Air Force has 19 B-2s, so seven of them represent just over a third of the entire fleet. That number also doesn't include the B-2s that flew out in the Pacific as part of an elaborate deception effort to support the operation against Iran, or spares set aside in case any of the bombers had to abort after launch. In general, the B-2 fleet is also notoriously maintenance-intensive, and not all of them are ever available for operational taskings at any one time. TWZ's Tyler Rogoway previously highlighted how almost the entire available B-2 force was committed to Operation Midnight Hammer. Nearly the entire available B-2 fleet was used in this gambit, if you factor in the decoys in the Pacific (were actually there?). A portion of the tiny fleet is down for maintenance or in depot at any given time, although they had time to ready what they could. One test jet etc. — Tyler Rogoway (@Aviation_Intel) June 22, 2025 During the talk today, Armagost further highlighted the small size of the B-2 fleet and acknowledged questions about the Air Force's current ability to execute missions like Midnight Hammer at any appreciable tempo, as well as the potential risks this raises, especially when it comes to nuclear deterrence. In addition to the unique conventional strike capability the B-2 offers, especially when paired with 30,000-pound GBU-57/B Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) bunker busters, which were first employed operationally in the strikes on Iran, the bombers are a key component of America's nuclear arsenal. 'It's somewhat miraculous to me, actually, that we even have 19 B-2s at this point, because, you think about when that airplane was fielded, and in the [post-Cold War] 'peace dividend' that could have gone to zero very easily,' he said. 'The original plan was for 132 B-2s to ultimately replace the B-52. Clearly, that didn't happen, and the fact that we have 19 was again, somewhat of a minor miracle.' It should be noted here that the Air Force originally expected to buy 165 aircraft as part of the Advanced Technology Bomber (ATB) program, which led to the B-2, before that number shrank first to 132, and then down to just 21. The current fleet of 19 reflects the total loss of two of the bombers in separate mishaps in 2008 and 2022. 'My position as [head of] the numbered Air Force for bombers, right, is, I can never assume that any single strike is going to be enough,' Armagost continued. 'Many might imagine we would get to inhale a little bit on June 23 [after Operation Midnight Hammer], and that was not the case, right? We had to be ready for what was the next question to be asked, or what was the next problem to be confronted.' 'In this specific case, it resulted in a ceasefire about 30 hours after the strike,' he noted. 'You can't count on that, though.' In particular, sustaining B-2 combat operations in the Pacific during any future high-end fight with China would be very challenging. A much larger fleet of B-21s will allow for great overall flexibility, including for supporting a more persistent forward presence, if needed, as well as less predictability. Expected greater reliability and lower maintenance and sustainment demands will also help contribute to a higher operational tempo for the Raider. Speaking more broadly, and in the context of potentially being called upon to execute nuclear strikes, 'you have to be able to operate on the worst day that the world has ever seen, not even just our nation has ever seen, but the worst day the world has ever seen,' the Eighth Air Force Command explained. 'We have to be able to operate, because if we can't, then that calls into question our very ability to deter.' Armagost took this opportunity to also underscore his view of the importance of 'organic kill chains,' which is to say his command's ability to execute missions in a highly independent manner if required, especially due to any loss of connections with various critical networks. 'On the worst day ever, where there's been attacks in space or [an] electromagnetic pulse, where communications or GPS, for example, are denied, it is not optional for a nuclear-capable bomber to get to a target and hold it at risk. So you have to have, inherent to the systems on the airplane, the ability to know where you are, know kind of your status, and your ability to command and control and communicate,' he said. 'Any resilience you gain from the long-range kill chain or long-range nuclear command and control communications is a bonus, and it actually increases your ability to deter.' As it stands now, the Air Force's goal is for the B-21 to begin entering operational service before the end of the decade. Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota is set to be the first operational Raider base, with the new bombers replacing B-1s stationed there now. At least a portion of the pre-production B-21 test fleet could form part of this initial operational force. The operational B-2 fleet also includes a number of aircraft originally built as test jets. In the meantime, the Air Force's top office in charge of the service's bomber fleets is already eager to begin reaping the benefits that the Raider fleet will bring, including just by virtue of its overall size. Contact the author: joe@
South China Morning Post
19-07-2025
- Science
- South China Morning Post
How to stop US bunker busters? Chinese scientists have an idea
Precision-guided bunker busters fly slowly but carry massive warheads wrapped in thick armour. Small nations without air power watch helplessly as bombs fall. Advertisement When US B-2 stealth bombers struck Iran's nuclear sites with GBU-57 MOP (Massive Ordnance Penetrator) bunker busters on June 22, there was reportedly little resistance. Chinese researchers have offered a countermeasure: strike the weak flank. Although the bomb's nose armour is thick, its steel sides are thin and measure just a few centimetres, meaning one or two anti-aircraft shells could crack it open. Low-cost anti-aircraft guns can be deployed around key sites. But the guns must survive, radar must track and electronic warfare must be countered. Instead of China's own weapon, the computer simulation used Swiss Oerlikon GDF guns which are widely fielded in the Middle East , including Iran. Advertisement The GDF fires 36 shells in two seconds. At 1,200 metres (0.7 miles), the kill probability hits 42 per cent.
Yahoo
26-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
B-2 Bombers Head West Across Pacific Amidst Iran Crisis
At least two separate groups of B-2 Spirit stealth bombers are currently heading westward across the Pacific Ocean, but their exact final destination is currently unclear. The bomber movements come as U.S. officials have been deliberating whether or not to join Israel's ongoing campaign against Iran, and President Donald Trump has said a final decision could come within the next two weeks. B-2s carrying 30,000-pound GBU-57/B Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) bunker buster bombs are widely seen as the only readily available conventional option for targeting the deeply-buried enrichment facility at Fordo, in particular, short of a ground flight tracking data, together with publicly available air traffic control audio, shows at least two separate flights of B-2 bombers using the call signs Mytee 11 and Mytee 21 departing Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri overnight, supported by a large force of aerial refueling tankers. Whiteman is the main operating base for the Air Force's entire fleet of 19 B-2s. The stealth bombers headed west and subsequently linked up with additional tankers off the coast of California. The B-2s have begun their oceanic crossing over the 11 flt and MYTEE 21 flt wkg SAN FRANCISCO RADIO on HF this morning after refueling with HIFI 81 flt (KC-46) and HIFI 83 flt (KC-46) along the AR5 West High track off the coast of California. NKAWTG… — Thenewarea51 (@thenewarea51) June 21, 2025 NITRO61 flt (KC-135) refueling MYTEE21 flt (B-2) on the AR309 NITRO71 is the next cell of tankersAudio via @liveatc and tracking via @ — Thenewarea51 (@thenewarea51) June 21, 2025 How many B-2s are in each Mytee flight is not clear, but there are reports that each one contains at least three B-2s. Flight tracking data shows four tankers were tasked to support each group after the initial launch from Whiteman. Earlier this year, two sets of three B-2s had deployed to the highly strategic Indian Ocean island of Diego Garcia, from where they flew strikes against Houthi militants in Yemen, in what was also a major show of force aimed at Iran. KC135s NITRO61-64 are joined with B2s MYTEE21 NITRO71-74 are joined with B2s MYTEE11 groups of B2s. — Aircraft Spots (@AircraftSpots) June 21, 2025 Two groups of four tankers out of Altus are now lined up with air refueling route AR-309 (west) for Whiteman AFB air the spacing between each group of four. — Evergreen Intel (@vcdgf555) June 21, 2025 1147z MYTEE 21 x3 USAF B-2/A Spirit's(Making the Total now atleast x6 #B2's)Departed from Whiteman AFB #KSZL Likely heading to Guam / Anderson AFB # with San Francisco (SFO) #HF on 5574 khz.#MYTEE21 #MYTEE22 #MYTEE23. — Andy (@Andyyyyrrrr) June 21, 2025 Signs have been growing for days that a major deployment of B-2s could be imminent. A large force of aerial refueling tankers had been tracked deploying to various locations across the Pacific. C-17 cargo aircraft had also made flights to Whiteman, where they could have been dropping off or picking up personnel and/or materiel in support of an upcoming mission. Another C-17 with a 4-digit code (interestingly is also the tail code :-)) is outbound from Whiteman. It is also a McChord based C-17 and was on the ground for just over 3 hours before launching again. #08-8192 — MeNMyRC (@MeNMyRC1) June 20, 2025 Starting on June 13, Whiteman had also been closed for operations for scheduled maintenance to the airfield, and had been set to reopen on June 23. However, the reopening occurred ahead of schedule on June 19, after which the C-17 flights began. C-17s descending into Whiteman this evening — Thenewarea51 (@thenewarea51) June 19, 2025 As noted, the ultimate destination for the Mytee 11 and Mytee 21 flights is not clear at present. A Notice to Air Mission (NOTAM) released yesterday suggested that the B-2s were at least set to refuel off the coast of Hawaii today as part of their onward movement, which has now been backed up by flight tracking data and air traffic control audio. A NOTAM for aerial refueling just north of Hawaii has been published for June 21st starting at 0300 Zulu (11:00 AM EST). The attitude reservation entitled 'GLOCK' is for altitudes FL210 – FL280. Looks like the B-2s are getting ready. PS. The B-2 looking shape in red is… — Thenewarea51 (@thenewarea51) June 20, 2025 1431z "#MYTEE21 ATC Requests Advice when MARSA With #FRESH35 Flight." — Andy (@Andyyyyrrrr) June 21, 2025 There are reports that the stealth bombers are currently heading to Andersen Air Force Base on Guam. If that is true, some or all of the bombers could still continue on to Diego Garcia or other forward locations. Diego Garcia is one of a very limited number of locations outside of the United States with existing infrastructure to support sustained B-2 operations. AR #2 out of Travis AFB, HIFI81-82 supporting B-2s MYTEE21 HIFI83-84 supporting B-2s MYTEE11 FLT. — Aircraft Spots (@AircraftSpots) June 21, 2025 It should be stressed here that there are no clear indications one way or the other at this time that the B-2s are actively headed to conduct strikes on Iran, although they have the capability to do so without forward basing. This was demonstrated last October when a group of them flew straight from Whiteman to strike targets in Yemen. At that time, TWZ also highlighted the clear signal that the marathon mission had sent to Iran. The fact that the B-2s refueled immediately after takeoff could point to them at least having MOPs onboard, as the weight of the weapons requires some fuel to be sacrificed for departure. Positioning the B-2s even in Guam would still reduce the time for sorties to and from Iran, which would, in turn, help the turnaround time for follow-on missions. Each of the stealth bombers can only carry two GBU-57/Bs at a time, and multiple MOPs would be required to neutralize Fordo as part of a sustained campaign. It's also important to note that B-2s would conduct any strikes on Iran as part of a larger force package that would include supporting assets to help shield the bombers from anti-air threats, as well as conduct post-strike damage assessments. Combat search and rescue forces would also be part of the equation. The B-2s are already extremely survivable and Iran's air defense capabilities have been severely degraded by Israeli strikes, but that does not mean there are zero risks. At least as of June 19, four B-52 bombers, as well as six F-15E Strike Eagles, continue to be forward-deployed at Diego Garcia after having arrived there at various points back in May. TWZ was first to report on the deployment of the F-15Es, which are there explicitly for force protection purposes. Satellite imagery has also consistently shown tankers, cargo planes, and other supporting aircraft at the strategic island outpost in recent months. The U.S. military also recently repositioned air assets from Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, some of which at least appear to have been relocated to Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia. American naval vessels in Bahrain were also observed putting to sea. These movements would help reduce the vulnerability of the forces in question to potential Iranian attacks. Higher resolution Chinese satellite imagery from the 19th posted by Mizarvision. — OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) June 21, 2025 Satellite images of Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, one of the U.S. Air Force's most important bases in the Middle East, appear to show the base now completely abandoned. The base, which regularly maintains dozens of military aircraft, including aerial-refueling tankers, surveillance… — OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) June 18, 2025 Almost all vessels have sortied out from Salman Port in Bahrain, a multinational naval base on the Persian Gulf. At least 1x US Navy LCS, 2x minesweepers, both of the Royal Bahraini Navy's Perry-class Frigates, and a roughly a dozen smaller vessels have put to sea. — OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) June 17, 2025 This all comes amid what the U.S. military has openly acknowledged as a major force build-up across the Middle East, as well as Europe, in light of the current Israel-Iran conflict. Officials have insisted that the recent deployments, which include airpower and naval assets, are defensively focused. However, these forces are also now inherently better positioned to support offensive operations against Iran if the decision is made to do so. Lajes Air Base, a key mid-Atlantic stopping-over point for US aircraft headed to and from Europe and beyond, is absolutely packed. New images show 12x USAF tankers sitting on the ramp as the massive ongoing US airlift to the Middle East continues. — OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) June 21, 2025 A flock of USAF F-22 Raptor stealth fighters follow their KC-46 tanker towards the Middle East, as seen from the @TheAviationist and @TallGlenn85 — OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) June 20, 2025 The U.S. Navy now has five guided-missile destroyers in the eastern Mediterranean, according to U.S. defense officials. This is a significant increase. Earlier this week, the U.S. had just one in the eastern Med. Following Israel's attack on Iran, the U.S. had two positioned in… — Jennifer Griffin (@JenGriffinFNC) June 20, 2025 'We're going to see what that period of time is, but I'm giving them a period of time, and I would say two weeks would be the maximum,' Trump told reporters yesterday when asked about the possibility of U.S. strikes on Iran. 'I think it's very hard to make that request right now,' Trump also said in response to questions about the possibility of a ceasefire between Israel and Iran to provide space for a negotiated settlement to the conflict. 'If somebody is winning, it's a little bit harder to do than if somebody is losing, but we're ready, willing and able, and we've been speaking to Iran, and we'll see what happens.' 'We're the only ones that have the capability to do it — but that doesn't mean I'm going to do it,' Trump had also said on Wednesday when asked about a possible U.S. strike on Fordo. 'I have ideas as to what to do. I like to make the final decision one second before it's due because things change, especially with war. Senior Iranian and European officials did meet in Geneva, Switzerland yesterday about a possible diplomatic resolution to the fighting, but the only clear outcome was a readiness for further talks. A new ultimatum from the Trump administration demanding Iran abandon domestic enrichment activities and dismantle other elements of its nuclear program, as well as accept new restrictions on its missile capabilities, was reportedly conveyed to Iran at that time. Even just a forward deployment of B-2s would be in line with a maximum pressure campaign to push the regime in Tehran to accept these terms. According to N12 news, The U.S. has delivered a final offer to Iran:• END uranium enrichment• SLASH long-range missile programs• DISMANTLE key nuclear infrastructureIsrael believes rejection = U.S. enters the Oman, Italy & Norway offered to host talks. Iran… — Open Source Intel (@Osint613) June 20, 2025 The Iranian government has already pushed back on the possibility of any negotiations while Israeli strikes continue. Israeli officials, for their part, have also expressed disinterest in diplomatic engagement with Iran. As the force of B-2 bombers continues to head west across the Pacific, their ultimate destination at least may become NBC News, and The Wall Street Journal are now reporting that the B-2s are headed for Andersen Air Force Base on Guam, all citing unnamed U.S. officials. The possibility remains that some or all of the stealth bombers could continue onward to a location like Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean. 'The officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity, declined to disclose any further details,' according to Reuters' report. 'One official said no forward orders had been given yet to move the bombers beyond Guam. They did not say how many B-2 bombers are being moved.' 'However no order has been given to strike Iran, officials say,' The Wall Street Journal's Lara Seligman also wrote in a post on X. However no order has been given to strike Iran, officials say — Lara Seligman (@laraseligman) June 21, 2025Contact the author: joe@
ABC News
23-06-2025
- Politics
- ABC News
Satellite images show impact craters, building damage at Iranian nuclear sites
New satellite imagery shows US stealth bombers appear to have targeted a vulnerable spot in one of Iran's key nuclear sites, buried deep in a mountain. Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant, located near the city of Qom, is a once-secret facility that has recently been enriching uranium to levels high above the minimum needed for civilian use. "If your goal is to eliminate [Iran's] nuclear program, you have to eliminate Fordow," one expert told ABC NEWS Verify. US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said the bombers had "obliterated" Iran's nuclear ambitions, in a press conference following the mission. New imagery from the site shows six visible craters on the mountain that shields Fordow's underground structure, thought to be about 90 metres below. They were caused by several of the 14 GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) bombs dropped on two Iranian nuclear sites during the attack. The images have been analysed by experts from the Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS) — a think-tank led by David Albright, a leading American physicist and nuclear weapons expert, who is also a former weapons inspector. The impacts at the bottom of the image appear to exploit one of the facility's vulnerabilities — a ventilation shaft, according to the ISIS analysis. "This set of holes [is] near the ventilation shaft of the underground complex, enabling an easier pathway for the MOPS to the deeply buried halls," it reads. "It is highly likely that the enrichment halls were severely damaged or even destroyed in the attack. Debris from the explosions can be seen on the side of the mountain," it concludes. The ventilation shaft had been identified as a weak spot in the structure — after Fordow's early blueprints were stolen in a 2018 raid by Mossad, Israel's foreign intelligence service. "We were surprised by this, there's only one ventilation shaft for the building," David Albright said in a 2024 podcast interview. "You see it in the drawings. We went back and looked at historical imagery and we could see it being built, and then [camouflaged]. "You know exactly where it is … you can destroy that shaft deeply, that could potentially cause damage mostly through temperature effects. "You could put the facility out of commission for quite a long time, measured probably in a few years rather than a few months," he told Arms Control Poseur. The ISIS analysis also notes that Fordow's entrances were backfilled by Iran ahead of the attack. Evidence of this can be seen in imagery from June 20, where trucks and what appear to be bulldozers were captured near the facility's entrances. Natanz and Isfahan The new imagery also shows Natanz — Iran's largest enrichment facility — has been impacted by at least one "bunker-buster". An image from its construction in 2003 shows large structures in the middle of the site, which are not present in more recent imagery and were likely buried. The new imagery shows at least one GBU-57 impact point above what is thought to be a buried enrichment hall, according to ISIS analysis. "This explosion likely destroyed the facility," it concludes. The high-resolution imagery shows at least one other likely impact crater. Previous Israeli strikes had hit an electrical substation, gas turbine generators, a power supply support building and a pilot fuel enrichment plant. The Isfahan nuclear site had also been hit by Israeli strikes prior to America's involvement. But a US submarine launched more than two dozen Tomahawk cruise missiles at the site as the attack was unfolding. ISIS analysis said the Isfahan complex sustained heavy damage, including to its main uranium conversion facility and nearby tunnel entrances. Bombers fly east B-2 Spirit Stealth Bombers were used to drop the GBU-57s — marking the first time the bombs have been used in an operation. The bombs reach depths of up to 60 metres before exploding. The US's entire fleet of B-2s operates out of Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri. It took 18 hours for the bombers to reach their target, according to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Dan Caine. Including the flight back to the US, it was the longest B-2 mission since 2001. The mission included flying a number of bombers west over the Pacific as decoys — which were able to be tracked by some aviation enthusiasts. General Caine said more than 125 aircraft were involved in the mission — including fourth- and fifth-generation fighter jets.
LBCI
22-06-2025
- Politics
- LBCI
US used seven B-2 bombers for 'surprise' Iran attack: Top general
Seven stealth bombers were used in the U.S. attack against Iranian nuclear sites, which apparently saw little response by Iran's military, top general Dan Caine said Sunday. Describing the complex operation, dubbed "Midnight Hammer," Joint Chiefs Chairman Dan Caine said the "main strike package comprised of 7 B-2 Spirit bombers" flying 18 hours from the U.S. mainland to Iran with multiple aerial refueling. "Iran's fighters did not fly, and it appears that Iran's surface to air missile systems did not see us throughout the mission. We retained the element of surprise," Caine added. AFP
