Summary Three B-2 Spirit stealth bombers arrived at RAAF Base Amberley for training exercises. These deployments demonstrate US commitment to allies in the Indo-Pacific. US focusing on Great Power Competition, increasing presence in the region.
Three B-2 Spirit stealth bombers have landed at the Royal Australian Air Force Base Amberley near Brisbane as part of a Bomber Task Force deployment. This comes soon after Australia wrapped up hosting its largest-ever Exercise Pitch Black , which included 4,400 personnel and 140 aircraft from 20 countries (the US participated with F-22s, F-35s, and other aircraft). Three B-2 Spirit bombers arrive in Australia The US Air Force announced that the deployment at the RAAF Base Amberley began on August 16, stating, " The Pacific Air Forces look for every opportunity to train alongside our allies and partners to demonstrate interoperability and bolster our collective ability to support a free and open Indo-Pacific.
" It is unclear how long the bombers will remain in Australia, but Bomber Task Forces typically last two or three weeks. "This deployment is in support of Pacific Air Forces’ training efforts with allies, partners, and joint forces and strategic deterrence missions to reinforce the rules-based international order." - US Air Force According to Air and Space Magazine , the bombers were accompanied by two KC-135R tankers from the Illinois National Guard.
The publication also identified two of the aircraft as the Spirit of Arizona and the Spirit of Indiana from the 393rd Bomb Squadron. This is the first time B-2 bombers have returned to Australia since the summer of 2022. They also recently returned to Guam for the first time in five years.
“We’re increasing the presence of rotational U.S. forces in Australia.
..more maritime patrol aircraft and reconnaissance aircraft operating from bases across northern Australia.
It will also mean more frequent rotational bomber deployments.” - Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin Only 21 B-2 Spirit bombers were built, and two were lost to accidents, leaving only 19 in service.
In the coming years, they will be joined by the new B-21 Raider, which is now in low-rate production. The USAF needs to be more flexible and operate from a wider assortment of air bases over a wider area while coming under missile attack. Age of Great Power Competition in the Asia-Pacific The US has entered a new age of Great Power Competition and is focusing on exercises and practicing interoperability with its allies in the Asia-Pacific region.
Meanwhile, it is also basing more F-35A fighter jets in Japan while the aircraft carrier USS George Washington's (CVN-73) F/A-18 Super Hornet jets are being replaced by F-35Cs in the region . Last week, the Air Force deployed F-22 Raptors to Brunei, the Philippines, and Indonesia in another show of force. Australia is one of the US's closest allies and one Aussie air base of focus is Australia's northern RAAF Tindal Airbase.
Reuters has reported that the US and Australia are seeking to build facilities at Tindal to support the deployment of up to six B-52 Superfortress bombers and refueling aircraft (along with infrastructure to support F-22 Raptors). Australia's new MQ-4C Triton drones will also be based at Tindal ..
