US B-2 bombers strike Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen

a reply to: Zaphod58


Thanks for that. I was under the impression these guys were just a bunch of camel jockeys able to damage civilian ships but pretty ineffective against the military.

Hadnt thought about the difference in munitions.

a reply to: SprocketUK

They aren't the best trained, or best equipped in the region by a long shot, but they have some pretty good air defenses. They've hit Reapers at pretty long range, while outside Yemen airspace. They're equipped with Sayyad-2C, which is a reverse engineered RIM-66 (SM-1), SA-2, -3, -6, and -9 SAM systems. They also have converted AA-10 and AA-11, and possibly AA-7 and AA-8 missiles into ground launched systems.

Five aircraft, not including spares went off the coast of California before continuing to Northern Australia, where they may have met with RAAF KC-30s, before continuing to Yemen for their strike.

www.abc.net.au...

originally posted by: SprocketUK
a reply to: Zaphod58


Thanks for that. I was under the impression these guys were just a bunch of camel jockeys able to damage civilian ships but pretty ineffective against the military.

Hadnt thought about the difference in munitions.

This was also about sending the right message, as Zaphod mentioned. The Houthi could just as easily have been addressed with other options, but this was meant to remind Iran that we can hit them anytime and anywhere (particularly deep below the surface where Iran likes to put their stuff) whenever we decide to do so and specifically with the GBU-57A MOP that is currently one of the B-2’s more unique options.

originally posted by: SprocketUK
a reply to: Zaphod58


Thanks for that. I was under the impression these guys were just a bunch of camel jockeys able to damage civilian ships but pretty ineffective against the military.

Hadnt thought about the difference in munitions.

This was also about sending the right message, as Zaphod mentioned. The Houthi could just as easily have been addressed with other options, but this was meant to remind Iran that we can hit them anytime and anywhere (particularly deep below the surface where Iran likes to put their stuff) whenever we decide to do so and specifically with the GBU-57A MOP that is currently one of the B-2’s more unique options.

Looks like one reason they used five aircraft was because they turned it into a Bomber Task Force Mission. I was mistaken about it being Whiteman-Whiteman, and they recovered to Diego Garcia, which keeps them in the area, and reduced mission time. Total mission time was 45 hours.