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First aerial bombing mission at Kwajalein complete

by Airman 1st Class Erica Stewart
36th Operations Group Public Affairs

1/29/2008 - ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, GUAM -- B-2 Spirit stealth bombers from Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., completed the first aerial bombing mission at the Ronald Regan Test Site on the Kwajalein Atoll in the western chain of the Marshall Islands of Guam, Jan. 23.
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The Army test site encompasses approximately 750,000 square miles, and for the past 30 years has been used to validate the Air Forces Strategic nuclear intercontinental ballistic missile strike capabilities as well as developing the U.S. missiles defense capabilities.

"RTS prides itself in being a vital nation asset capable of meeting a wide variety of mission requirements to include the testing and validating some of United States' most strategic weapons systems," said Bert Jones, the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command public affairs representative.

This is the first time the B-2 Spirit has used RTS and its instrumentation for training and to validate its existing capabilities, she said.

By opening Kwajalein to aircraft missions, the RTS personnel are able to validate opening the range to other weapons systems.

"We are showing the proficiency of the B-2 pilots and the aircraft by providing feedback of the accuracy of the weapons dropped," said Ms. Jones. "From the range perspective, this mission is showing that RTS is flexible enough to validate nation's strategic weapon systems other than intercontinental ballistic missile."

Members of the 393rd EBS embraced the joint PACOM mission by working with the Army on the ground at Kwajalein.

"Joint missions like this one are incredibly important because that's how we fight our wars," said Capt. Dan Hoadley, a flight commander for the 393rd EBS and a B-2 instructor pilot.

"It is important for us to practice the coordination it takes to execute a mission like this one in training so that things go smooth in combat," he said.

Many people were utilized to coordinate this mission, not only at Andersen AFB but also at Kwajalein.

"It takes a veritable army of people to plan a mission like this," Captain Hoadley said.
"There was tons of coordination between people in the mission planning cell, people at the Kwajalein range, and people at the command level to make this mission happen."

All the planning and coordination paid off at 1:15 p.m. when six inert joint direct attack munitions hit the target at RTS.

"This mission showcases the B-2's abilities to strike anywhere, anytime with precision, payload and stealth," said Maj. Rob Makros, the 393rd EBS deputy chief of weapons and tactics.

"Flying 22.3 hours, refueling three times and receiving over 200,000 pounds of fuel, and dropping six 2,000 pounds weapons are serious capabilities that we bring to the table," he said.

Not only have these capabilities opened up Kwajalein beyond ballistic missile and missile interceptor testing but also provide new opportunities for joint service exercises at RTS that demonstrate U.S. commitment to regional and global security.