Flying more than 11,000 nautical miles on a 24-hour mission from Andersen AB, Guam, three B-2 stealth bombers last month precisely delivered their payloads on an Alaskan training range engulfed in smoke from forest fires—the fires were not part of the mission. The B-2s were in Guam on what has become a routine rotation for stateside bombers to bolster US forces in the Pacific region. The Global Power mission concluded the 120-day rotation for four B-2s and more than 240 airmen from Whiteman AFB, Mo. While at Andersen, the Whiteman team flew more than 100 combat missions.
The Air Force plans to add external weapons pylons on the B-1B bomber, both to increase the number of aircraft that can test hypersonic missiles and expand the Lancer’s loadout as USAF transitions to the B-21 bomber.