The U.S. military is repositioning B-52H bombers and refueling tankers to the Indian Ocean, signaling a significant strategic buildup near the Middle East.
The United States Air Force has launched a strategic tanker package from Fairchild Air Force Base to support B-52H Stratofortress bombers crossing the Pacific. Open-source intelligence reports indicate KC-135R and KC-46A assets are facilitating mid-air refueling for the heavy bombers. These aircraft are reportedly advancing toward staging areas as regional instability signals a potential escalation in the Middle East.
The bombers are expected to position at Diego Garcia, a strategic base roughly 2,500 miles from Iran. This maneuver involves a rendezvous with additional B-52s that departed Louisiana “under the cover of darkness.” While the Pentagon has not issued an official confirmation, the deployment mimics previous strategic operations conducted during periods of heightened tension in the region.