The clock is ticking on Donald Trump's ultimatum to Iran to give up its nuclear weapons program, and an unusual bomber deployment just put teeth like a pit bull's into it.

Defense analyst and retired Israeli fighter pilot/special forces soldier (what a combo, right?) Naftali Hazony reported on X Monday that "At least six U.S. B-2 bombers are now stationed at Diego Garcia air base in the Indian Ocean."

This is kind of a big deal.

"The B-2 is the only aircraft that can deliver the massive GBU-57," Hazony continued, "one of the only bombs that can destroy Iran’s nuclear sites at Natanz and Fordow." The GBU-57 is a massive, 30,000-pound bunker-buster. Lacking heavy bombers, the Israeli Air Force (IAF) simply doesn't have a plane capable of delivering anything of that size and weight. //

In other words, six of maybe 12 flyable B-2s are ready to go at a moment's notice, just 2,000 miles from Iran. Typically, Spirits fly missions almost anywhere in the world from their home at Whitman in Missouri. Forward-deploying them at Diego Garcia gives them a much quicker turn-around time for a sustained bombing campaign.

The clock is ticking, and I don't just mean Trump's ultimatum that expires in the first week of May. While there's no smoking gun, the Gatestone Institute's Majid Rafizadeh has a detailed report this week on Russia and China's effort to make sure "Iran goes nuclear before end of Trump’s ultimatum" next month. "What remains overlooked is the significant role that China, North Korea, and Russia have been playing to make sure that Iran achieves nuclear weapons breakout before US President Donald J. Trump’s 'two-month ultimatum' runs out." //

anon-officer
a day ago
As an Artilleryman, the GBU-57 is near and dear to my heart sense it's made out of 8" howitzer barrels when that platform was decommissioned.

Nothing would put a smile on my face more than to show it off to the Mullah's in Iran, if you know what I mean.

anon-officer anon-pkys
a day ago edited
Yeah, you couldn't just throw a projectile up on the tray by hand with those baby's! I miss them. I got to command a 2 x 4 Paladin btry so that was highlight of my career.

I kind of got on a nostalgia kick and looked up some old videos:

My favorite Ft. Sill video featuring 8", 105's, MLRS, Paladin's, and block house Signal Mountain ha, ha. It's an oldie but a goodie. Wish someone would do it in high res:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBJNt76IMsA

Best video after 9/11. It's time the Houthis experience this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zEbs_0WM2P8

.. and while searching for these, I came across an inspirational 1st term Trump video I thought was pretty good: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2PNOokBh1Y