By Kris Osborn, President, Center for Military Modernization
(Washington DC)
The classic, Vietnam-era B-52 a lethal and imposing platform which will can hold critical areas of the Pacific at great risk of long-range cruise missile strikes and high volumes of precision bombing. Its mere presence can be intimating, despite the aircraft’s lack of stealth. Now, the US Air Force will have the option of flying more B-52s over or near contested areas in the Pacific, as the Air Force has been wanting to increase the number and frequency of its Bomber Task Forces in the Pacific for quite some time. Now, the B-52 will be Indonesia
For the first time in history, a US Air Force B-52 bomber has arrived in Indonesia, a country in the South Pacific about 2,000 miles south of China within strategic reach of the South China Sea, Taiwan and other critical regions in the area.
Singapore is a longstanding US ally and F-35 partner, yet there has been much less involvement between the US and Indonesia, so the arrival of the B-52 improves the US deterrence posture and signifies a step forward in a collaborative relationship between Indonesia and the US.
In an immediate sense, the arrival of the B-52s in Indonesia is a symbolic gesture to rival China by demonstrating that the US is further solidifying and strengthening its coalition in the Pacific aimed at containing, challenging and counterbalancing China.
There are several key critical factors to consider with this, as the US Air Force’s upgraded B-52 is quite capable of bomber task force and security patrols throughout the Pacific theater. Indonesia is indeed a strategically advantageous location for the B-52 as it places the South China Sea and mainland China itself within reach of bombing sorties. With a reported range of 8,800 miles, the B-52 easily has the combat radius to travel roughly 2,500 miles from Indonesia to the Chinese mainland. With its range, a B-52 would have sufficient dwell time throughout key parts of the region without having to refuel. Launching and landing B-52s from Indonesia offers a tactical and strategic advantage to the US and its South Asian allies as it is closer to mainland China and the South China Sea than Guam. Guam, which is roughly 3,000 miles from mainland China and much farther away from the South China Sea than Indonesia is. Therefore, having B-52s occasionally operate from Indonesia offers the US and expanded geographical and strategic window with which to hold China at risk and conduct Bomber Task Force patrols over sensitive areas such as the highly contested South China Sea.
B-52s in Guam & Indonesia
It is likely that the US will operate B-52s from Indonesia in an unpredictable fashion, similar to how B-52 arrivals and patrols are conducted in Guam. This means B-52 arrivals or Bomber Task Force operations will not be aligned with a particular schedule or routine to preserve the possibility of surprise.
While the presence of B-52s is clearly significant, as Bomber Task Force patrols do demonstrate strength and resolve, there are certain limits to what it could accomplish in the Pacific. Much of its impact would likely pertain to those areas where it operates. For instance, B-52s would prove to be an impactful presence and demonstration of air power resolve and readiness through international air space in the Pacific, and particularly over sensitive areas of the South China Sea where Chinese “island building” or weapons could be held at risk.
However, B-52s themselves would be quite challenged to conduct attack missions over mainland China in the event of major conflict for obvious reasons, unless of course the US and its allies were first able to securely establish air superiority. Should B-52s attempt to operate in contested airspace, the large, non-stealthy planes would be quite vulnerable to Chinese fighter jets as well as ground based air defenses. The advantage though, is one of readiness, meaning B-52 patrols from multiple points of entry dispersed across critical parts of the Pacific certainly demonstrates US resolve and preparedness to harness instruments of national power in the region.
Kris Osborn is the Military Affairs Editor of 19FortyFive and President of Warrior Maven – Center for Military Modernization. Osborn previously served at the Pentagon as a Highly Qualified Expert with the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army—Acquisition, Logistics & Technology. Osborn has also worked as an anchor and on-air military specialist at national TV networks. He has appeared as a guest military expert on Fox News, MSNBC, The Military Channel, and The History Channel. He also has a Masters Degree in Comparative Literature from Columbia University
