by Olawale Abaire, Warrior Editorial Fellow
The U.S. Air Force’s recent Spirit Vigilance Exercise featuring dozens of B-2 Spirit Stealth Bombers has drawn considerable attention. This exercise, occurring amidst growing global tensions, raises questions about the readiness and strategic intentions of the United States regarding long-range precision strikes.
The B-2 Spirit Stealth Bomber, a key component of the U.S. Air Force’s long-range strike arsenal, is one of the most survivable aircraft in the world. Its unique stealth characteristics allow it to penetrate the most sophisticated enemy defenses.
Recently, the 509th Bomb Wing executed a mass fly-off of 12 B-2A Spirit Bombers as part of the annual Spirit Vigilance exercise. This event has sparked discussions and speculations about the U.S. Air Force’s preparedness for a potential global strike.
Spirit Vigilance exercises are more than routine training; they are a critical test of the Air Force’s ability to rapidly mobilize and deploy these formidable aircraft under tight constraints and heightened scrutiny. Such demonstrations send a clear message to potential adversaries about the U.S.’s operational capabilities and strategic readiness.
The B-2 Spirit Stealth Bomber is a versatile combat aircraft equipped to deploy a range of both standard and nuclear payloads. Its distinctive low-visibility, or “stealth”, attributes afford it the unparalleled advantage of infiltrating even the most advanced enemy defense systems, posing a significant threat to their most prized and robustly protected assets.
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During the Spirit Vigilance exercise, the U.S. Air Force demonstrated its ability to execute global strike operations anytime, anywhere. The mass takeoff of the stealth bombers was the main activity of this event at Whiteman Air Force Base. This exercise allowed Airmen to display their capability to rapidly generate and deploy the B-2 Spirit under greater scrutiny and time restraints, which is different from the normal day-to-day flying mission.
The B-2 Spirit Stealth Bomber is the only in-service aircraft that can carry large air-to-surface standoff missiles in a stealth configuration. It is considered to be among world’s most strategic aircraft, as it combines stealth, payload, and long-range strike.
The B-2’s capability to deploy the GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) provides an additional layer of deterrence. This formidable weapon, weighing 30,000 pounds and capable of penetrating 200 feet of concrete, underscores the bomber’s ability to neutralize deeply buried targets, enhancing the U.S. military’s reach and operational scope.
Col. Geoffrey Steeves, 509th Operations Group commander, stated that “The B-2 stealth bomber has never been more relevant than it is now. It was conceived at the height of the Cold War but fielded when the Soviet Union dissolved and the Berlin Wall fell. Now, 30 years later the B-2 finds itself in the world for which it was created — strategic competition”.
As emerging threats and technological advancements continue to evolve, the U.S. Air Force’s preparedness for a potential global strike, as demonstrated in the Spirit Vigilance exercise, will remain a critical aspect of its defense strategy.
OLAWALE ABAIRE is a Warrior researcher, writer and analyst who has written many published nonfiction books
