U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Russ Scalf
A B-2 Spirit bomber deployed from Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri, and F-22 Raptors from the Hawaii Air National Guard's 154th Wing fly near Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, during a interoperability training mission Jan. 15, 2019.
- The B-2 Spirit, a heavy bomber, and the F-22 Raptor, an unmatched air-superiority fighter, are stealth aircraft capable of slipping past enemy defenses to unleash a significant amount of firepower on enemy targets.
- These two hard-hitting aircraft are training together in the Pacific, where China has sought to bolster its anti-access, area-denial capabilities to deter the US military.
- The deployment to Hawaii is intended to reassure America's international partners while sending a warning to adversaries that "the B-2 is on watch 24 hours a day, seven days a week ready to protect our country and its allies."
The US Air Force has two of its most elite aircraft - the B-2 Spirit bomber and the F-22 Raptor - training together in the Pacific, reassuring America's allies and sending a warning to strategic competitors and adversaries about the sheer power the US brings to the table.
These stunning photos show the powerful aircraft tearing across the Pacific, where the US has increasingly found itself facing challenges from a rising China.