The three B-2 Spirits that landed in Australia last week for a bomber task force caused a stir across the Indo-Pacific with a stunning formation flight and a rare landing at a strategic location.
Two of the B-2 bombers, accompanied by American F-22s, two Royal Australian Air Force F-35As, two EA-18G Growlers and an E-7A Wedgetail, conducted a flight through the airspace of southeastern Australia on August 19 – an impressive demonstration of the air power of the two allies, in which some of their most modern fighter jets, bombers, electronic warfare aircraft and airborne early warning and control aircraft took part.
Later, Australian KC-30A tanker aircraft joined the squadron to refuel the bombers and Growlers in the air.
A Royal Australian Air Force E-7A Wedgetail, two EA-18G Growler jets and two F-35A Lightning II jets fly in formation with two United States Air Force B-2 bombers and two F-22 Raptor fighter jets. *** Local caption *** A Bomber Task Force consisting of United States Air Force B-2 Spirit stealth bombers, pilots and equipment from the 509th Bomb Wing and 131st Bomb Wing operates from Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) base Amberley in Queensland. This deployment provides an opportunity for Australia and the United States to deepen their air-to-air integration as part of expanded air cooperation. The RAAF and United States Air Force have a long shared history of military-to-military relationships and regularly train together to enhance interoperability.
A Royal Australian Air Force E-7A Wedgetail, two EA-18G Growler jets and two F-35A Lightning II jets fly in formation with two United States Air Force B-2 bombers and two F-22 Raptor fighter jets. *** Local caption *** A Bomber Task Force consisting of United States Air Force B-2 Spirit stealth bombers, pilots and equipment from the 509th Bomb Wing and 131st Bomb Wing operates from Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) base Amberley in Queensland. This deployment provides an opportunity for Australia and the United States to deepen their air-to-air integration as part of expanded air cooperation. The RAAF and United States Air Force have a long shared history of military-to-military relationships and regularly train together to enhance interoperability.
A Royal Australian Air Force E-7A Wedgetail, two EA-18G Growler jets and two F-35A Lightning II jets fly in formation with two United States Air Force B-2 bombers and two F-22 Raptor fighter jets. (Royal Australian Air Force photo by FSGT Christopher Dickson)
A Royal Australian Air Force KC-30A multi-role tanker and transport aircraft prepares for an aerial refueling with a United States Air Force B-2 bomber. *** Local caption *** A Bomber Task Force consisting of United States Air Force B-2 Spirit stealth bombers, pilots and equipment from the 509th Bomb Wing and 131st Bomb Wing is operating from Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Amberley base in Queensland. This deployment is an opportunity for Australia and the United States to deepen their air-to-air integration as part of expanded air cooperation. The RAAF and United States Air Force have a long shared history of close militarily relations and regularly train together to enhance interoperability.
A Royal Australian Air Force KC-30A multi-role tanker and transport aircraft prepares for an aerial refueling with a United States Air Force B-2 bomber. *** Local caption *** A Bomber Task Force consisting of United States Air Force B-2 Spirit stealth bombers, pilots and equipment from the 509th Bomb Wing and 131st Bomb Wing is operating from Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Amberley base in Queensland. This deployment is an opportunity for Australia and the United States to deepen their air-to-air integration as part of expanded air cooperation. The RAAF and United States Air Force have a long shared history of close militarily relations and regularly train together to enhance interoperability.
Two Royal Australian Air Force EA-18G Growler jets fly in formation with two United States Air Force B-2 bomber aircraft. *** Local caption *** A Bomber Task Force consisting of United States Air Force B-2 Spirit stealth bombers, pilots and equipment from the 509th Bomb Wing and 131st Bomb Wing operates from Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Amberley base in Queensland. This deployment provides an opportunity for Australia and the United States to deepen their air-to-air integration as part of expanded air cooperation. The RAAF and United States Air Force have a long shared history of military-to-military relations and regularly train together to enhance interoperability.
Royal Australian Air Force KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRT) aircraft prepare for an aerial refueling with a United States Air Force B-2 bomber and two EA-18G Growler jets. *** Local Caption *** A Bomber Task Force comprised of United States Air Force B-2 Spirit stealth bombers, pilots and equipment from the 509th Bomb Wing and 131st Bomb Wing is operating from Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Amberley base in Queensland. This deployment provides an opportunity for Australia and the United States to deepen their air-to-air integration as part of expanded air cooperation. The RAAF and United States Air Force have a long history of close military relations and regularly train together to improve interoperability.
Later in the week, one of the B-2s made a brief pit stop at Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, about 3,000 miles from the mainland. Airmen from the 110th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron changed crews while the ground crew quickly refueled the bomber and got it back in the air with the engine running – a process known as “hot pitting.”
The team has optimized this process to ensure greater efficiency with fewer staff.
“In the past, our hot pit crews were large, high-effort groups that went out and prepared everything,” said Col. Matthew Howard, deputy commander of the 110th EBS and a B-2 pilot, in a news release. “With further iterations of this process, we have made it more streamlined under the Agile Combat Employment concept, where we can land a jet with the minimum number of people, turn the jet around and then get it airborne.”
These bomber missions are intended to increase readiness through joint operations “to respond to any potential crisis or challenge in the Indo-Pacific,” the press release continues.
“If we lose a tanker or can’t get a tanker for aerial refueling, a hot pit allows us to move our jet from place to place, refuel and complete the mission,” Howard added.
Diego Garcia is home to a naval support facility and provides access to the Indo-Pacific, Southwest Asia, the Middle East and Africa. U.S. Air Force bombers regularly fly there, as they did in March when two B-52 Stratofortresses landed there. But it has been four years since the Air Force announced a B-2 landing on the island.
The B-2s are currently stationed at RAAF Base Amberley along with two KC-135R tanker aircraft from the Illinois National Guard.
A U.S. Air Force B-2 Spirit is prepared for hot refueling for a Bomber Task Force mission in Diego Garcia, British Indian Ocean Territory, Aug. 21, 2024. Hot refueling is when an aircraft lands, refuels and takes off without shutting down its engines. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Whitney Erhart)
U.S. Air Force Airmen assigned to the 110th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron prepare a B-2 Spirit stealth bomber for hot refueling during a Bomber Task Force mission in Diego Garcia, British Indian Ocean Territory, Aug. 21, 2024. Bomber missions enhance U.S. Air Force readiness to respond to any potential crisis or challenge in the Indo-Pacific through joint and multilateral operations. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Whitney Erhart)
Staff Sergeant Nathan Klein, a security officer with the 110th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron, speaks with a U.S. Navy security officer during a Bomber Task Force mission in Diego Garcia, British Indian Ocean Territory, Aug. 21, 2024. Bomber missions contribute to the lethality of joint forces by demonstrating the USAF’s ability to operate anytime, anywhere in the world in support of the National Defense Strategy. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sergeant Whitney Erhart)
A U.S. Air Force B-2 Spirit is hot pit refueled during a Bomber Task Force mission in Diego Garcia, British Indian Ocean Territory, Aug. 21, 2024. Hot pit refueling is the process of landing, refueling and taking off an aircraft without shutting down the engines. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Whitney Erhart)
Earlier this month, the Air Force also deployed F-22s from the 27th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron to Australia. The Raptors conducted a joint hot-pit refueling mission with the RAAF’s F-35s at Curtin Air Base in the west of the country. The strategically located base is still under construction as it is prepared to conduct more temporary operations.
“We are willing to take risks if it leads to better agility and combat capability,” said Master Sgt. Luke Ashman, chief of the 27th Expeditionary Fighter Generation Squadron’s aircraft division, in a press release. “The implementation has been very smooth, the RAAF seems to be on the same wavelength as us.”
These bomber and fighter aircraft deployments with the Australian military follow a ministerial conference between the United States and Australia earlier this month, at which defense ministers from both countries said they would increase the presence of American aircraft in Australia.
“We are increasing the presence of rotating U.S. forces in Australia,” Defense Minister Lloyd J. Austin said at the time. This will include “more maritime patrol aircraft and reconnaissance aircraft operating from bases across northern Australia.” He added that the allies were planning “more frequent rotating bomber missions.”
