U.S. Deploys B-1B to India
Conducts Large-Scale Joint Air Force Training
A Blatant Deterrence Aimed at China
The Pacific and Indian Oceans are currently the stage for fierce competition between China and the U.S. and its allies. Among these, India is a reliable ally in the U.S.’s power strategy against China. By improving relations with India, the U.S. aims to block China’s advances into the Indian Ocean and simultaneously cooperate with it as one of the key forces surrounding China.
Recently, India and the U.S. conducted large-scale joint air force training. This included the F-15E, C-130, and C-17 transport aircraft and the U.S.’s powerful bomber, the B-1B Lancer. Today, let’s take a brief look at this bomber and what its deployment to India signifies.
Designed initially for Nuclear Deployment
Deployed to the Korean Peninsula
Initially, developers based the B-1B on the B-1 for nuclear deployment. However, under the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, START2, signed in 1993, they eliminated the B-1’s nuclear deployment function. Instead, it evolved into a bomber capable of delivering a massive bombardment to the enemy with its enormous payload, and it also incorporated stealth capabilities, enabling fast, powerful, and covert attacks.
In 2016, the B-1B deployed to Guam conducted operations in the Korean Peninsula under the pretext of a protest against North Korea. It has also conducted several operations in the Korean Peninsula as a warning message. It is even said to have flown over the eastern sea of North Korea, crossing the NLL in the East Sea.
Can Strike China at Any Time
As explained, the B-1B is a message that the U.S. can bomb any opposing country quickly at any time. Hence, the deployment of the B-1B for training with India suggests that if the U.S. chooses to do so, it can conduct airstrikes anywhere in mainland China whenever necessary, provided that the B-1B is stationed near the India-China border.
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