US deploys B-2 Bombers to Middle East

alertnet ^

[rs79bm]

By Charles Aldinger

WASHINGTON, March 13 (Reuters) - The United States has begun deploying radar-avoiding B-2 stealth bombers, which pack one of the biggest punches in the U.S. arsenal, for use in a possible war against Iraq, the military said on Thursday.

The bat-wing bombers flew out of Whiteman Air Force base in Missouri on Wednesday night, a spokesman for the 509th Bomb Wing told Reuters.

They will join a massive potential attack force of more than 250,000 American and British troops, hundreds of warplanes and dozens of ships already gathered in the Gulf region.

The spokesman would not say how many B-2s had been sent or where they were would be based.

But the high-tech bombers, and each capable of carrying 16 satellite-guided 2,000-pound (900 kg) bombs, were believed headed for the Indian Ocean island of Diego Garcia.

The Air Force has built special hangars on an air base at Diego Garcia as well as at the Royal Air Force Base at Fairford in the United Kingdom. Support crews for bombers began leaving Whiteman, where 21 B-2s are based, earlier this week.

"We have deployed B-2s to the Central Command area of responsibility," said Air Force Lt. Matt Hasson, a spokesman for the bomb wing at Whiteman. "Last night we launched them."

'WE ARE FOCUSED'

The B-2, originally developed for long-range missions in the Cold War, was not available in the 1991 Gulf War. Whiteman is the bombers' only base, where the first of was delivered in 1993.

The aircraft made its debut in combat operations in the Kosovo campaign in 1999. It flew nonstop all the way from the base in Missouri, attacked targets in Yugoslavia and returned to the base with the aid of aerial refuelling.

The B-2 also saw action in the opening three days of the war in Afghanistan launched weeks after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States.

The Air Force says the B-2 provides four key characteristics: stealth, precision weapons, large payload and long range, making the warplane a real revolution in air warfare.

It's low-observable, or "stealth," characteristics give it the ability to penetrate an enemy's most sophisticated defenses and threaten its most valued and heavily defended targets.

The B-2s join a long list of Navy and Air Force warplanes already mobilized for possible war with Baghdad.

The Pentagon on Feb. 3 sent F-117A "Nighthawk" stealth fighters to the region from Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico. The angular Nighthawk was the only western aircraft used to strike targets in heavily-defended downtown Baghdad during the Gulf War. (Additional reporting by Will Dunham)

[rs79bm]

as reported by AP ... usually the B-2's are sent in to do the dirty work. The U.S. does not fool around with the deployments of their most powerful bomber. We'll see.

[TADSLOS]

Batter Up!

[CholeraJoe]

20 hours flight time to DG. 24 hours crew rest. Should be ready for Saturday Morning.

[Fractal Trader]

was mentioned earlier on Fox. Showed pictures.

I bet all remaining are in reserve for Korea or reserve for reserve : - )

[knak]

I thought these left a week ago.

[finnman69]

B-2s are definitely one of the last units to move in. Combine this with GLCM cruisers and destroyers being moved in from the Med to the Red Sea.

One week to go.

[rs79bm]

You're thinking of the B-52 bombers.

[Don Carlos]

B-2's dont fly halfway round the world for practice. Looks like times about up for Saddam.

[Dog Gone]

I don't know why they are keeping the destination a secret. We all know where it is.

[rwfromkansas]

Reported on another thread......U.N. vote until late next week.

Bush has lost my confidence. I am stunned to say that this has happened, but it has.

I do not believe he has a handle on this situation, nor an end game anymore.

[hchutch]

Sending the B-2s. Looks like they're bringing in the closers to shut the door.

They have a big conventional punch, and you have a good nuclear component with AGM-69A SRAMs, AGM-129 Advanced Cruise missiles, or gravity bombs (B61 and B83).

[xzins]

It's frustrating, RW, but bear with it.

Bush is doing this for Blair's benefit. Understand that and you understand everything.

The "war plan" is actually more like, "we have dozens of 'war plans.'" The military creates large varieties of plans to accomodate changing contingencies.

[colorado tanker]

I don't know a heck of a lot about Air Force tactics. Aren't the B-2's usually the last to deploy because of their high maintenance needs? So is the curtain about to rise?

[Frapster]

I agree - Bush is helping Blair as he should.

[demlosers]

They put up about 4 temperature controlled, special pre-fab hangers at Diego Garcia.

[rs79bm]

High maintenance and secrecy. They are an absolute technical marvel. Thus, they are not released unless they have something to do.

[CasearianDaoist]

Really think that's it. I think its more that no-one - and not just americans - expected an all out push by the French to thwart us. NOboody thought that the French would miscalculate like this.

[always paddle your own canoe]

We had alot of activity with the jets yesterday here in MO, so this does not surprise me. Time is very short now.

[Zathras]

Its time for Sadam to "Feel the Spirit"

[labowski]

Gap Band Bump!!!