U.S. Air Force B-2 stealth bombers have departed from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri with aerial refuelling support from eight KC-135 Stratotankers.
The aircraft appear to be heading toward Diego Garcia, a strategic U.S. military base in the Indian Ocean.
Flight tracking data shows two groups of four tankers each linking up with the bombers over Kansas. The B-2 aircraft were using the callsign “MYTEE21,” which has previously been associated with stealth bomber missions.
The movement comes during a wider repositioning of U.S. military assets toward Europe and the Middle East. In recent weeks, dozens of American aircraft, including fighters, tankers, and surveillance platforms, have been deployed to the region. Two U.S. Navy supercarriers are also operating forward, along with other naval and air force elements.
The B-2 Spirit is designed for long-range strike missions and is capable of delivering both conventional and nuclear weapons. It is the only U.S. aircraft specifically designed to penetrate heavily defended targets such as underground facilities.
The presence of eight tankers supporting the mission indicates an extended-range operation. While the Department of Defense has not officially confirmed the destination or objective, the scale and coordination of the flight suggest a pre-planned deployment.
At present, there is no indication of an imminent strike. However, the timing of the movement is significant given the current tensions surrounding Iran’s nuclear programme and U.S. posture in the region.
The context
The B-2 Spirit is a long-range stealth bomber operated by the United States Air Force. It is designed to penetrate advanced air defense systems and deliver both conventional and nuclear weapons. The aircraft is capable of flying over 6,000 nautical miles without refuelling and can carry up to 40,000 pounds of ordnance internally. Its stealth profile allows it to evade radar detection, making it suitable for high-risk strike missions against well-defended targets. The B-2 has been in service since the late 1990s and plays a key role in long-range strategic operations.
The B-2 is equipped to carry the GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator, a heavy precision-guided bomb designed to destroy deeply buried targets. This 30,000-pound weapon can penetrate through layers of soil, rock, and reinforced concrete before detonating. The bomber can carry two of these munitions at a time, allowing it to engage fortified structures in a single sortie. This capability gives the B-2 a unique role in targeting underground facilities that are beyond the reach of conventional bombs or cruise missiles.
Several Iranian nuclear sites, including the Fordow facility, are located underground and protected by layers of reinforced material. These sites are believed to be beyond the reach of most air-delivered weapons, except for those carried by aircraft like the B-2.
