Since we’re at Defcon 5, it’s probably an R&R run to keep the crew happy.
Long, long hours of endless flying over the ocean can wear on you when each flight is 12+ hours and you gotta be on your toes.
But going into orbit makes no sense. Not over land.
These aircraft have a very specific mission and it’s to relay Emergency Action Messages from National Command Authority to Strategic Forces at Sea.
Gaijan posted a cutout of the aircraft and it illustrates a “High Power Transmitter”. And yes, it’s very, very powerful...and in fact, has never been successfully jammed. Not even by us.
The highest concentration in the world of men who have been waterboarded are in these aircraft.
Period.