4 US B-2 Stealth Bombers Land In Australia: A Message To China

Two B-2 Stealth Bombers took off from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri to land in Australia this week to take part in "strategic deterrence missions with allies, partners and joint forces." The move is considered a show of force against Chinese influence in the Indo-Pacific.

Two bombers flew almost 14,000 kilometers (about 8,700 miles) to land at Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Base Amberley last Sunday. They were followed by two more, which touched down at the RAAF Base Amberley on Thursday, Air Force Magazine reported.

A press statement by Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) said the B-2 Spirit bombers are part of a rotational Bomber Task Force "supporting the Enhanced Cooperation Initiative under the Force Posture Agreement between the United States and Australia."

This collaboration between Australia and the U.S. comes as both countries entered a pact to enhance cooperation in air and space. But, importantly, the move is viewed as a challenge to Chinese influence in the region.

"Training and operating with our Australian partners has been an absolute blast," Lt. Col. Andrew Kousgaard, commander of 393rd Expeditionary Bomb Squadron, said in a statement. "Since our advance team hit the ground over a week ago, U.S. Airmen have integrated with their Australian counterparts in every specialty: fuels, logistics, maintenance, aviators, you name it," Kousgaard added.

The report added the airmen and bombers plan to train for "hot" refueling with Australian equipment and RAAF tanker KC 30s.

"We simply cannot operate effectively by ourselves in this environment, and learning to effectively integrate with our partners is absolutely critical to success," Kousgaard said. "We’re training against that ‘tyranny of distance,’ alongside our Australian partners on this deployment, and that experience is truly invaluable."

It was in March when a B-2 bomber first flew from Whiteman Air Force Base to Australia and back over the course of more than 50 hours this year. However, since Sunday, more bombers were spotted in Australian skies, the videos now doing rounds in social media.

Last November, the U.S. decided to deploy additional rotations of fighter and bomber aircraft in Australia to deter potential Chinese military aggression and threats from North Korea. A decision was also taken to upgrade the US bases in Guam and Australia to counter Beijing.

This comes as Australian media reported an Australian warship has had several encounters with the Chinese military, while traveling through international waters in East China Sea. According to Australian military sources, HMAS Parramatta was closely tracked by the Chinese Navy, including being followed by a Chinese nuclear-powered submarine, a warship and multiple aircraft.