One of the B-2 Spirits that was used as a feint, heading west over the Pacific with an armada of tankers strung along the way, while the real strike force headed east over the Atlantic to hit Iranhad to divert in Hawaii and is still there. Emergency diversions of this kind into Honolulu seem to be an increasingly common occurrence for the notoriously complex, maintenance-intensive, and aging B-2 stealth bomber force.
On June 21st, 2025, aircraft trackers watched with great interest as B-2s headed west out over the Pacific in what seemed clearly to be a major move to at least be in place to strike Iran if the call came. This was all an elaborate ruse purposely built to leverage the online open source intelligence community — usually a pain in war planners’ sides — to propagate a massive misdirection. We still don’t know the full details behind this operation. In fact, we know less about this sleight of hand than the actual B-2 strikes on Iran. But it seems a smaller number of bombers — possibly just two B-2s — were involved with a tanker force acting as if they were supporting a larger bomber contingent. Various outlets, citing anonymous U.S. officials, had originally reported that the B-2s were headed to Guamwhich didn’t exactly make sense at the time.
As I have stated repeatedly, for all the issues the OSINT community may cause military planners, it can also be used to their greatest advantage when it really matters.
– Tyler Rogway (@aviation_intel) June 22, 2025
One of the decoy B-2s had to make an emergency landing at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu, which is co-located with Hickam Air Force Base. Part of Joint Base Pearl Harbor–Hickam, the installation serves as a home base primarily for F-22s, C-17s, and KC-135s, but also as a sprawling hub that supports operations across the Indo-Pacific. B-2s have stopped at Hickam and even flown sustained forward operations out of there in the past. They have also diverted there and called the base home until a plan to fix them is devised and implemented. In 2023, one B-2 in particular stayed far longer than expected after it diverted to the airfield due to an emergency just as the entire force of stealth bombers was starting what turned out to be a six-month-long grounding. That was implemented after a B-2 crashed during landing at Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri.
A U.S. Air Force B-2 Spirit is prepared for operations ahead of Operation MIDNIGHT HAMMER at Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri, June 2025. 509th Bomb Wing
David Martin (@Sir_DavidMartin) posted a short clip of the stricken B-2 sitting on an apron at Honolulu International yesterday, with a police car sitting nearby to keep an eye on it. The jet diverted to Honolulu under the callsign MYTEE 14. It remains there today, according to low-resolution, commercially available satellite imagery. Depending on how badly the jet is broken and in what manner, the logistics of fixing it thousands of miles from its home base can be complicated.
B2 Stealth bomber sitting alone and guarded in Honolulu International. Just captured this on the taxi out. No reports online of a B2 here. This is the closest I’ve been to one. @grok says: There are no reports of a B-2 stealth bomber currently stationed or “sitting” at Daniel… pic.twitter.com/jlPl3MwiNd
— David Martin (@Sir_DavidMartin) June 24, 2025
“We will not comment on movement, deployment or posturing of forces,” Charles Hoffman, Chief of Media Operations at Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC), told Twz when asked about the B-2 in Hawaii. “Air Force Global Strike Command maintains the capability to provide global strike anywhere, at the time of the President of the United States’ choosing. Our forces are always ready to work alone or fully integrate with our many allies and partners. We continue to work toward delivering the promise of peace through strength.”
While the B-2 fleet remains uniquely capable and in high demand, it’s now in the twilight of its career. Maintaining these aircraft has always been hideously expensive, but the ‘silver bullet’ capabilities they provide, plus the knowledge base that they have built when it comes to operating and sustaining a flying wing stealth bomber, have been extremely valuable. With just 19 remaining in operation, they are truly the definition of a low-density, high-value asset.
B-2 was considered a disaster of a program. Poster child for Pentagon death spiral.
Nobody would argue 30 years later it wasn’t an absolutely pivotal investment.
– Tyler Rogway (@aviation_intel) June 23, 2025
Upgrades in recent years have aimed to keep the tiny B-2 force relevant and supportable, as many of the 1980s components for the stealth bombers are long out of production. The enhancements have also looked to curb operational cost growth, especially when it comes to maintaining the jet’s notoriously finicky and highly classified, low-observable coatings. Along with cockpit and systems upgrades, these measures will keep the B-2 relevant and ready until the B-21 Raider can take over, and hopefully in far greater numbers. This is essential as the B-2’s survivability against a peer threat is waning.
As such, the B-21 is a can’t fail program, and thankfully it seems to be relatively on track and on budget, bucking the procurement curse of its progenitor.
Howard Altman contributed to this story.
Contact the author: Tyler@twz.com
