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Open-source intelligence (OSINT) tracking by DefenceGeek and the "Military Air Tracking Alliance" claimed that a major B-2A Spirit stealth bomber mission from Whiteman Air Force Base (AFB) in Missouri struck targets in Iran on March 27-28.
The 40th bomber mission tracked since the start of Operation Epic Fury, with analysis of tanker assets suggesting four or more bombers were involved in what analysts are calling "Bomber Mission XL."
The mission, designated KIOSK63 flight, departed Whiteman AFB, the B-2's home base in Missouri, on March 27 and is confirmed to be returning across the mid-Atlantic as of March 28.
DefenceGeek analyst noted: "Based on analysis of the tanker assets involved in the mission compared with previous B-2 runs, I believe 4 or more bombers is likely."
OSINT tracking identified supporting KC-46A Pegasus and KC-135 Stratotanker aerial refueling aircraft operating from Lajes in the Azores, Sofia in Bulgaria, Bucharest in Romania and other locations, providing outbound and return air-to-air refueling coverage across the Atlantic and Mediterranean.
CENTCOM had not confirmed the mission at the time of reporting.
The analyst noted the B-2s have likely hit targets in Iran that the UK was not permitting Fairford-based B-1 and B-52 aircraft to strike, as UK base authorization has been limited to specific defensive operations against missile sites targeting shipping.
While B-1B Lancers and B-52Hs have been forward-deployed to RAF Fairford in the UK for the bulk of the Iran bombing campaign, the B-2s have flown smaller numbers of missions from Whiteman, but against the most hardened and sensitive targets.
There is no evidence at this time that B-2s are operating from Diego Garcia or any other forward base for the US's war effort.
The B-2 Spirit is currently the only aircraft capable of carrying munitions that are capable of penetrating Iran's really-deep, hardened underground targets. With an unrefueled range of approximately 6,000 nautical miles and a payload of up to 40,000 pounds, the B-2 can strike targets anywhere on the globe from the continental United States.
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This was not the first B-2 deployment in the current war.
On March 1, CENTCOM announced U.S. Air Force B-2 Spirit bombers struck Iran's hardened ballistic missile facilities using 2,000-pound munitions. It marked the second major deployment of B-2s against Iran following last June's 12-day Israel-Iran war, during which B-2s struck Iran's three main nuclear facilities at Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan.
CENTCOM had said at the time: "The aircraft were equipped with 2,000-pound bombs during the operation" and the strikes targeted "Iran's hardened ballistic missile facilities."
The B-2 Spirit is a multi-role heavy bomber built by Northrop Grumman Corporation and its contractor team. It is powered by four General Electric F118-GE-100 engines, each producing 17,300 pounds of thrust.
The aircraft has a wingspan of 172 feet, a length of 69 feet and a maximum takeoff weight of 336,500 pounds. It carries a crew of two pilots, has a service ceiling of 50,000 feet, an intercontinental range, and a unit cost of approximately $1.157 billion in fiscal 1998 constant dollars.
The U.S. Air Force maintains an active inventory of 20 aircraft, all based at Whiteman AFB.
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