B-2 bombers deploying near the Korean Peninsula.
On Mar. 10, the U.S. announced the deployment of three Air Force B-2 stealth bombers to the Asia-Pacific region amid growing tensions with North Korea.
The aircraft, from the 509th Bomb Wing, from Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri, will officially conduct training activities with the Australian armed forces, even though the deployment of the Spirit radar-evading planes seems more to be a way to flex muscles against Pyongyang that has threatened pre-emptive nuclear strikes after the U.S. and South Korea kicked off joint drills earlier this month.
Although the U.S. Air Force has not disclosed where the aircraft will be based, it is quite likely that the aircraft will operate out of Andersen Air Force Base, in Guam, strategically located in the Pacific, that has already hosted U.S. bombers involved in extended deterrence missions in the region.
Washington recently staged a show of force when four U.S. Air Force F-22 “Raptor” fighter aircraft from Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Japan, deployed to Osan Air Base, in South Korea, and performed a flyover near the base along with four Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) F-15 Slam Eagles and U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons.
Image credit: U.S. Air Force
