The United States is planning to deploy up to six nuclear-capable B-52 bombers to an air base in northern Australia amid heightened tensions with China.
Dedicated facilities for the bombers will be set up at the Royal Australian Air Force’s remote Tindal base, about 300 km (190 miles) south of Darwin, the capital of Australia’s Northern Territory, ABC News reported citing U.S. documents.
“The ability to deploy U.S. Air Force bombers to Australia sends a strong message to adversaries about our ability to project lethal air power,” the U.S. Air Force told the broadcaster.
The Australian defense department did not comment on the B-52 deployment. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told reporters: “We engage with our friends in the US alliance from time to time. There are visits to Australia, including in Darwin, that has US marines on a rotating basis stationed there.”
China saw the deployment as provocative. In response to a question, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said defence and security cooperation between countries should “not target any third parties or harm the interests of third parties.”
Speaking at a regular briefing in Beijing, Zhao told reporters that “The relevant U.S. behaviors have increased regional tensions, seriously undermined regional peace and stability, and may trigger an arms race in the region”.
B-52 Stratofortress
The B-52 is a long-range, heavy bomber that can carry out ocean surveillance and anti-ship operations and can carry nuclear or precision guided conventional ordnance.
B-52 can perform strategic attack, close-air support, air interdiction, offensive counter-air and maritime operations. The B-52 bomber is capable of dropping or launching the widest array of weapons in the U.S. inventory including gravity bombs, cluster bombs, precision guided missiles and joint direct attack munitions.
For more than 60 years, B-52 Stratofortresses have been the backbone of the manned strategic bomber force for the United States. The B-52A first flew in 1954 and B-52H was delivered to Strategic Air Command in May 1961. Only the H model is still in the Air Force inventory and is assigned to the 5th Bomb Wing at Minot AFB, North Dakota and the 2nd Bomb Wing at Barksdale AFB, Louisiana. B-52s have been updated with modern technology and will continue into the 21st century as an important element of defense, according to U.S. Air Force.
