Latest news with #WhitemanAirForceBase
Fox News
27 minutes ago
- Politics
- Fox News
Operation Midnight Hammer: Historic B-2 bomber mission flew from Missouri to strike Iranian nuclear sites
Operation Midnight Hammer marked the largest B-2 operational strike in history, as the United States aimed to deliver a decisive blow against Iran's nuclear program. The mission started at Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri, the only operational base for the B-2 stealth bomber. "Fox & Friends" co-host Steve Doocy paid a visit to the base on Monday to capture the sense of pride in what the service members there do on the nation's behalf. "I'm extremely proud of the men and women here, not just the pilots, but the maintainers, the men and women who refueled these jets," said Republican Rep. Mark Alford, who represents the area. "Imagine being in a jet for 36 hours to go over to strike Iran, come back. It was all done with precision under the direction of President Donald J. Trump, and I'm excited that we have decapitated the nuclear capabilities of Iran." Trump announced Saturday that U.S. forces had successfully launched attacks on key Iranian nuclear sites, warning the country to "make peace" as future strikes loom. Bombers equipped with massive bunker busters took off from Whiteman and flew across the Atlantic to Iran where they dropped their payloads before returning home. The president addressed the nation later that night, calling the operation a "spectacular military success." Alford reflected on an instance decades ago, when, as a television reporter in Waco, Texas, he heard President Ronald Reagan talking about a plane that "no one could see." "I thought, 'What in the crazy thing are you talking about?' And here I am, the fourth congressional district representative who gets to represent this great base, not just the B-2, but also the programs out here… the MQ-9 Reaper. Blackhawk helicopters," he said. "This base is a jewel of the Department of Defense, and I get to represent it. I'm very honored." The mission received praise from many but criticism from others who have argued the president should have sought congressional approval before taking action. Vice President JD Vance praised the military service members who carried out the mission during an appearance on NBC's "Meet the Press" over the weekend. "These guys flew from Missouri. They didn't land a single time. They dropped 30,000-pound bombs on a target the size of a washing machine, and then got back home safely without ever landing in the Middle East…" Vance told host Kristen Welker. "Whatever our politics, we should be proud of what these guys accomplished."
The Standard
18 hours ago
- The Standard
US warns against Iran retaliation as Trump raises 'regime change'
A U.S. Air Force B-2 stealth bomber returns after the U.S. attacked key Iranian nuclear sites, at Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri, U.S. June 22, 2025 in a still image from video. (Reuters)
Yahoo
a day ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Where B-2 stealth bombers' mission to strike Iran started in the U.S.
A group of elite B-2 Spirit stealth bombers that took flight from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri early on the morning of June 21 headed for Iran, taking part in a mission to bomb three nuclear sites that President Donald Trump revealed hours later. The B-2 bombers conducted a series of strikes on targets in Iran, a senior Defense official confirmed. Those targets were Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan in Iran, the president revealed in a social media post just before 8 p.m. ET, saying it was a "very successful attack." The B-2s, valued at roughly $2 billion a piece, are known not only for their stealth technology, but for their ability to fly long range and carry big "bunker busting" bombs designed to penetrate deeply-buried bunkers and facilities. Whiteman Air Force Base, southeast of Kansas City, Missouri, is home to the entire fleet of 19 B-2 stealth bombers and proclaims it "can project U.S. airpower anywhere around the world from its home station." Its 509th Bomb Wing is part of the Air Force Global Strike Command. The B-2 Spirit is a long-range stealth bomber, equipped to carry the heaviest U.S. bombs and nuclear weapons. Its design and materials limit its ability to be detected by enemy radar. Its flying wing design, composite materials and coating reduce its radar cross section, according to an updated Congressional Research Service report released June 18. All B-2s are nuclear-capable, equipped to carry nuclear gravity bombs, but not cruise missiles, the Research Service stated. It's the only aircraft equipped to carry the Massive Ordnance Penetrator, or GBU-57, known as the "bunker buster" bomb. The B-2 has a total crew of two pilots. A wingspan of 172 feet and a length of 69 feet. Weighs 160,000 pounds. Each can hold two of the GBU-57s. Its design and build cost has been estimated at around $2 billion. More: B-2 bomber returns home to Edwards AFB for upgrades on 35th anniversary of first flight The bombers had been deployed at least once earlier in the year. Reuters, quoting unnamed U.S. officials, reported in April that as many as six bombers had been deployed to a U.S.-British military based on the Indian Ocean island of Diego Garcia. During Operation Allied Force, the B-2 was responsible for destroying 33% of all Serbian targets in the first eight weeks, flying nonstop to Kosovo from Missouri and back, according to the Air Force. During Operation Enduring Freedom, the B-2 flew from Whiteman to Afghanistan and back, the Air Force said. Its first ever combat deployment took place during Operation Iraqi Freedom, when it flew 22 sorties from a forward operating location, as well as 27 sorties from Whiteman. In total, the Air Force reported the bombers released more than 1.5 million pounds of munitions. In the waning days of the Obama administration in 2017, two B-2 bombers were among a fleet that dropped more than 100 bombs southwest of Sirte, Libya in strikes against the Islamic state and al-Qaeda terrorist targets. In October 2024, the U.S. attacked Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen with B-2 bombers. At the time, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the strike by the bombers "was a unique demonstration of the United States' ability to target facilities that our adversaries seek to keep out of reach, no matter how deeply buried underground, hardened or fortified." Contributing: Reuters, Kim Hjelmgaard, John Bacon, Kathryn Palmer This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: B-2 stealth bombers took off from the US on mission to strike Iran
