US stealth bomber buildup in Indian Ocean is a message to Iran

• A significant buildup of B-2 stealth bombers is taking place at Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, with either four or five bombers deployed alongside support aircraft. This move is seen as a strategic message to Iran and other global powers.
• The B-2s, capable of carrying nuclear and bunker-busting munitions, are within striking distance of Iran while remaining beyond the reach of Iranian retaliation, potentially targeting underground facilities like Iran’s “missile city.”
• The deployment also signals strength to Russia, China and India, all of whom have strategic interests in the region and may need to reassess their military and geopolitical strategies.

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There’s a fairly sizable buildup of B-2 stealth bombers taking place in the Indian Ocean. The U.S. military intends this move as a message to Iran and you can bet America’s other adversaries are taking note too.

A Significant Deployment

According to open-source intelligence, over the last few days, at least four, or potentially five, B-2 Spirits landed at Naval Support Facility Diego Garcia, which is located on a small island in the middle of the Indian Ocean. According to reporting by The War Zone, a B-2 landed in Hawaii after suffering mechanical issues. It’s unclear whether that craft continued to Diego Garcia.

The U.S. military deployed several C-17 Globemasters, aerial tankers and other support vehicles to the island, in addition to the bombers. The entire U.S. fleet of B-2 stealth bombers stands at just 20 planes, so the fact that up to 25% of the fleet is deployed together is significant. As is the location of their deployment.

Why Diego Garcia Matters

Diego Garcia is one of the U.S. military’s most strategic locations in the area of operation. It’s located in British Indian Ocean Territory. It’s been used as a joint base with the U.K. since the 1970s.

The U.S. military used the island as a launching pad for the bombing runs that started Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Targeting Iran?

Now, it looks like the Trump administration is gearing up to launch attacks on Iran from Diego Garcia. Iran is just shy of 2,400 miles away, which is well within the almost 7,000-mile range of the B-2s, but far enough away that none of the ICBMs or drones Iran has could retaliate against the bombers. Or even launch a preemptive strike.

The Role of the B-2s

B-2s are designed to deliver the first strike in a conflict. They are stealthy and fly high enough to typically avoid enemy detection. They can carry conventional or nuclear munitions and are the only planes in the U.S. inventory certified to drop the 30,000-pound GBU-57/B Massive Ordnance Penetrator, or MOP bomb.

The bunker-busting conventional munition is tailor-made to destroy large underground facilities, of which Iran has at least three. The Mullah Regime’s newly unveiled “missile city” could be a potential B-2 target. With its large chasms, long tunnels and a complete lack of blast doors or additional support structure, a B-2 could “mop up” the facility without ever being noticed.

A Message to Other Global Powers

That much firepower at Diego Garcia can’t go unnoticed by Russia, China or even India.

Russia has plenty of interests in Africa and the Middle East. China’s Belt and Road Initiative means the PRC is trying to expand into the region even more by establishing more overseas bases like the ones it has in Cambodia and Djibouti.

Of course, India may need to reassess its future plans with a quarter of the U.S. stealth bomber fleet parked relatively close to its own backyard.