B-2 Posture 🔺 Chinese Spies 🔺F-47

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Edited by: Sidney McAlear

Admin: We are back; it’s been a crazy (but good) March. Looking for History of the Day and Threat of the Day? Check it out towards the end of the newsletter.

On April 1, 2025, Lieutenant General Dan “RAZIN” Caine appeared before the Senate Armed Services Committee as President Trump's nominee for Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (more).

General Caine’s “There I was…” is available on Patreon and for Youtube Members

FLIGHT LINE

🎯 Satellite Imagery Reveals U.S. B-2 Bombers Deployed to Diego Garcia Amid Iran Tensions | On March 25, 2025, commercial satellite imagery from Planet Labs revealed the presence of three U.S. Air Force B-2 Spirit stealth bombers at Diego Garcia, accompanied by at least seven KC-135 Stratotanker aerial refueling aircraft. Analysts suggest this deployment could indicate preparations for extended-range strike missions targeting Iranian nuclear infrastructure.

The B-2s, operated by the 509th Bomb Wing, are capable of delivering both conventional and nuclear payloads, with stealth capabilities allowing penetration of defended airspace. Diego Garcia's strategic location in the Indian Ocean provides rapid access to potential hotspots, enhancing operational flexibility (more).

🎯 Maryland Air National Guard Retires First A-10, Future Flying Missions Uncertain | The Maryland Air National Guard's 175th Wing has begun retiring its A-10C Thunderbolt II fleet, with the first aircraft departing Warfield Air National Guard Base for Davis-Monthan Air Force Base's "boneyard" on March 26. This move initiates a process that may leave Maryland as the only state without an Air National Guard flying mission.

Efforts to reassign the 121st Fighter Squadron's F-16s from the D.C. Air National Guard to Maryland have stalled, pending decisions by the Office of the Secretary of Defense and the National Security Council (more).

🎯 F-47 Fighter to Surpass F-22 in Range and Stealth | The U.S. Air Force's forthcoming F-47, developed under the Next-Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program, is set to replace the F-22 Raptor with significant enhancements. According to Air Force Chief of Staff General David W. Allvin, the F-47 will feature a "significantly longer range" and advanced stealth capabilities compared to its predecessor. The aircraft's modular design aims to ensure adaptability to future threats and maintain air superiority in contested environments (more).

🎯 Former Air Force Secretary Omitted NGAD from 2026 Budget Due to Higher Priorities | Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall revealed that the Next-Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program, recently designated as the F-47, was excluded from the fiscal 2026 budget proposal due to budget constraints and prioritization of other defense needs. Kendall emphasized that missions such as counter-space operations and air base defense were deemed more critical stating, "Without air base defense... the F-22s, F-35s, and the F-47s will never get off the ground."

The NGAD program's projected cost is over twice that of the F-35, which is approximately $90 million per unit (more).

🎯 USAF Aircraft Readiness Hits Record Low, Prompting Leadership Concern | The U.S. Air Force's average mission capable rate declined to 67.15% in fiscal year 2024, down from 69.92% in 2023 and 71.24% in 2022, marking the lowest levels in years. Air Force Chief of Staff General David Allvin highlighted this trend, noting the fleet's average age has increased from about 17 years in 1994 to nearly 32 years in 2024, while aircraft availability has dropped from 73% to 54%.

Despite increased operations and maintenance spending—rising 40.7% from fiscal 2018 to 2023—readiness gains remain modest, with the F-35A's mission-capable rate at 51.9% in fiscal 2023. Potential budget constraints exacerbate these challenges, as military leaders warn that flat defense spending under a continuing resolution could further impair readiness and modernization efforts (more).

🎯 Army Sergeant Charged in China-Linked Espionage Plot | Sergeant Jian Zhao, an active-duty soldier at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, was charged in March 2025 with bribery and transmitting national defense information after allegedly selling classified materials to individuals tied to China. DOJ officials say Zhao provided an encrypted government laptop and sensitive hard drives in exchange for at least $7,500, expressing intent to move to China.

Two others—Li Tian and Ruoyu Duan—were also charged in a separate but related case involving the illegal export of U.S. Army technical manuals (more).

🎯 Russian Troops Use Gas Pipeline to Launch Rear Attack in Kursk | On March 9, 2025, Russian forces infiltrated Ukrainian positions near Sudzha, in Russia's Kursk region, by crawling through a 15-kilometer-long disused gas pipeline formerly used for exports to Europe. The covert movement enabled Russian troops to strike from the rear, catching Ukrainian forces off guard in a cross-border incursion. Ukrainian troops responded with rocket and artillery fire, reportedly inflicting heavy casualties (more). The picture below allegedly shows the lungs of a Russian soldier who went through the pipeline. I’m not a doctor, nor do I speak Russian. Does seem odd they shared this — not sure the gain. Thoughts?

🎯 $15M Bounty for Chinese National Accused of Smuggling U.S. Drone Tech to Iran | March 19, 2025, the U.S. Department of State announced a reward of up to $15 million for information leading to the disruption of financial mechanisms of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), specifically targeting Baoxia "Emily" Liu and three other Chinese nationals. The individuals are accused of conspiring to illegally export U.S. export-controlled items through China and Hong Kong to entities affiliated with Iran's IRGC and Ministry of Defense, facilitating the development of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and ballistic missile systems (more).

🎯 USAF Considers Extending KC-135 Stratotanker Service Life Amid Modernization Delays | The U.S. Air Force may need to initiate another Service Life Extension Program (SLEP) for its fleet of KC-135 Stratotankers, as current replacement rates suggest the aircraft could remain in service into the 2050s, approaching a century of operational use. General John D. Lamontagne, head of Air Mobility Command, highlighted that acquiring replacements at the pace of one squadron per year would necessitate continued upgrades to the KC-135 to maintain its viability.

The aircraft has previously undergone significant enhancements, including re-engining, re-skinning, and avionics updates, with the last major Block 45 upgrade in the 2010s extending its service life into the 2040s (More).

Have you caught the SEAD Series hosted by Flash?

HISTORY OF THE DAY

Date: February 23, 2008
Location: Andersen Air Force Base, Guam
Aircraft: B-2A Spirit “Spirit of Kansas”
Tail Number: 89-0127
Unit: 393rd Bomb Squadron, 509th Bomb Wing

🔸 Shortly after takeoff, the B-2 experienced a sudden un-commanded pitch-up and loss of control. The crew initiated ejection safely, but the aircraft crashed on the runway, resulting in a total loss of the $1.4 billion bomber. It was the first-ever crash of a B-2 Spirit since entering service in 1997.

🔸 An accident investigation board determined that moisture intrusion into the aircraft’s air-data sensors led to distorted flight control data. Specifically, three pressure sensors had been improperly maintained, causing incorrect altitude and airspeed readings. The flight control system responded to faulty inputs, causing the aircraft to rotate excessively during takeoff.

🔸 The crash reduced the operational B-2 fleet from 21 to 20 aircraft.

THREAT OF THE DAY (TOD)…via Wikipedia

Threat: B-2 Spirit
Country of Origin: United States
Initial Operational Capability: 1997
Primary Role: Stealth strategic bomber

Variants

🔺 B-2A: Only production variant; all 20 operational aircraft are B-2As, with ongoing modernization efforts including upgraded avionics, defensive management systems, and communications.

Speed: High subsonic (~Mach 0.95)
Range: ~11,000 km (6,800 miles) un-refueled; global with aerial refueling
Armament:

• Up to 40,000 lbs. of ordnance

• Nuclear: B61 and B83 bombs

• Conventional: JDAMs, Mk 84 bombs, GBU-57 MOP, and other precision-guided munitions

“Fun” Facts

🔸 Stealth First: The B-2 was the world’s first operational stealth bomber designed to penetrate advanced air defenses.
🔸 Combat Debut: First used in combat during Operation Allied Force (Kosovo, 1999), flying from Missouri to Serbia and back.
🔸 Global Reach: Frequently operates from Whiteman AFB or forward locations like Diego Garcia, recently confirmed in March 2025 via satellite as part of possible contingency posture for Iran.
🔸 Limited Fleet: Only 20 aircraft remain in service, making the B-2 one of the rarest and most strategic assets in the USAF inventory.
🔸 Successor Incoming: Will eventually be replaced by the B-21 Raider, expected to enter service later this decade.