U.S. Conducts Bomber Task Force Mission as Iran Threat Looms

Latest Developments

U.S. B-52 Flew with Israeli and British Fighters: U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that it had conducted its third bomber task force mission in the Middle East in two weeks on March 4 with a B-52H Stratofortress, which flew from the Fairford Royal Air Force base in the United Kingdom to the CENTCOM area of responsibility. Israeli F-15s and F-35s conducted joint exercises with the B-52 during its flight, according to the Israel Defense Forces. Air & Space Forces Magazine reported that Royal Air Force fighters were integrated into the B-52s flight as well. The B-52 appeared to be refueled by a KC-135 air refueler.
Demonstrates U.S. Ability to Deploy Force Rapidly: This latest bomber task force flight follows a February 20 exercise during which the U.S. Air Force said that B-52s from the 69th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron conducted “multiple missions over the Arabian Peninsula and Red Sea,” including live weapons drops. “Bomber Task Force missions demonstrate the U.S. military’s ability to rapidly deploy combat power anywhere in the world and integrate it with coalition and partner forces to enhance U.S. Central Command’s ability to promote security and stability in the region,” the Air Force said. Over the past year, the United States has used its B-1, B-2, and B-52 bombers to strike targets in Iraq, Syria, and Yemen.
Iranian Nuclear Threat More Severe: In an interview with Politico on February 26, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar said that Iran now had enough enriched uranium for a “couple of bombs,” adding that military action may be required to stop Iran from weaponizing the material. Iran recently concluded a months-long series of military exercises, codenamed “Great Prophet 19,” which included nuclear defense drills. On February 25, The Telegraph reported that Iran had bolstered defenses around its main nuclear and missile sites, fearing a joint attack from Israel and the United States.

FDD Expert Response

“The U.S. Air Force deserves credit for the number of Bomber Task Force missions in recent weeks, but quantity does not necessarily equal quality. There needs to be scrutiny as to whether business-as-usual Bomber Task Forces are having the desired effects when it comes to sufficiently strengthening combined combat preparedness and deterring Tehran. The Air Force deserves credit for demonstrating the ability to flow bombers into the Middle East quickly, but this task force mission would likely have been more effective if it had included more than one bomber and at least one B-2 and involved live weapons drops on targets simulating Tehran’s nuclear program. Future task forces should also include American F-15s and F-35s flying alongside Israeli aircraft — and they all should be refueled by KC-46s.” — Bradley Bowman, Senior Director of FDD’s Center on Military and Political Power

“The U.S. and Israeli air forces share similar equipment, pilot proficiency, and operational tactics so that high-intensity bilateral exercises can be executed routinely. This exercise is a reminder to any adversary that these two air forces can easily integrate to conduct comprehensive strike operations against the most complex air defense networks.” — RADM (Ret.) Mark Montgomery, FDD Senior Fellow and Senior Director of FDD’s Center on Cyber and Technology

“As Tehran concludes an unprecedented array of military exercises to include air defense drills aimed at improving force readiness and cohesion, the United States should continue to highlight that Washington retains a credible military option against the regime’s nuclear program. By employing more advanced bombers in these task force missions and showcasing greater partner nation involvement, CENTCOM would signal that the Islamic Republic has no military option for which the United States does not have a military response.” — Behnam Ben Taleblu, Iran Program Senior Director and Senior Fellow

“Israel demonstrated twice last year that it has the military capability to reach Iran and target the regime’s nuclear sites. Coupled with American military support, Iran should be concerned that its prized nuclear program can be significantly degraded, perhaps destroyed. Israeli and American warnings against the regime racing to a nuclear bomb are not mere rhetoric. When President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu say Iran will ‘never’ obtain a nuclear bomb, they mean it.” — Joe Truzman, Senior Research Analyst and Editor at FDD’s Long War Journal