The B-2 flies over the Utah Testing and Training Range at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, during the test run Sept. 10, in which the B-2 dropped 80 inert Joint Direct Attack Munitions. (Photo by Bobbie Garcia)
The US military is replacing its B-2 stealth strategic bombers at Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean with older bombers, Reuters reported on May 12.
Last March, as many as six B-2 bombers were deployed at the air base within striking range from Iran. While the deployment came amid a large-scale operation against the Houthis in Yemen, it was mainly aimed at pressuring Tehran to engage in talks on its 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 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 bomber is considered essential for any U.S. attack on Iran’s underground nuclear facilities, like the Natanz uranium enrichment site.
Unnamed U.S. officials who spoke to Reuters said that the B-2s removed from Diego Garcia were being replaced by B-52 bombers.
The B-52 has been operated by the U.S. military since the 1950s. The bomber’s payload is heavier than that of the B-2, but it is mainly used for close air support and carpet bombing.
After more than a month of intensive strikes on Yemen, U.S. President Donald Trump announced last week that a deal had been reached with the Houthis, with the group agreeing to halt attacks on U.S. vessels in exchange for ending the U.S. operation. The group, however, refused to halt attacks against Israel.
The U.S. and Iran have been also engaging in indirect nuclear talks since April. The fourth round of talks took place earlier this week, with both sides reporting progress.
Considering the recent developments, the withdrawal of B-2 bombers from Diego Garcia is meant to de-escalate tensions with Iran.
The U.S. move will not likely please Israel, which appears to be still considering military action against Iran’s nuclear program.
Earlier this month, The New York Times reported that Israel had planned to strike Iranian nuclear sites as soon as coming June but was waved off by Trump. The U.S. President made his decision after months of internal debate over whether to pursue diplomacy or support Israel in seeking to set back Iran’s ability to build a bomb.
For now, Trump has chosen diplomacy, leaving Israel on its own with its military plans. Still, the possibility of the U.S. being dragged to a confrontation with Iran can’t be ruled out.
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babakov-general of russian anti aircraft missiles on gazeta.ru -quote :-russian anti aircraft missiles can detect the northdrop -b2 stealth bomber ,even our older r-118,s can detect f-117,s ,the american “steath bombers ” are a publicity stunt ” end of quote .he quotes the s-400 but now russia has the even better s- 500.
the delicate nature of some western government hyped super-weapons makes them more useful as propaganda than as reliable battlefield weapons. western countries should be concerned about the test of their weapons against their chinese and russian counterparts in india and pakistan.
your right the western hype is extraordinary -if you use a western search engine its wall to wall “our stealth bombers cant be recognised till its too late ,reality will eventually sink in.
i’d leave out the ‘stealth’ part in the description. the only ones who really believe this thing can’t be seen is trump, who believes that you could stand beside it and not see it. i guess that is true, if your name is djt, moron extraordinaire. just like the f-117 that was shot down in europe, it couldn’t be ‘seen’ either. until it was, then shot down. old long-wave radar saw it and that was that. just like the m1a1, f-35cf…over-hyped junk.
absolutely right zman and yes i know about the long wave radar -long wave was also used to communicate with western submarines before satellites but its kept on standby.the f-35 is now famous worldwide for its technical and aerobatic problems starting with the inability to have a tall pilot when it comes to emergency ejection and the “stealth paint ” that has to be reapplied after every trip.donald says a new model is being designed.