Radio communications on ATC frequencies revealed that 4 B-2A Spirit stealth bombers flew a spherical journey mission from CONUS for night time strikes on Iranian targets.
As anticipated, the U.S. Air Power employed the B-2A Spirit stealth bomber throughout the first night time of the strikes towards Iranian targets as a part of Operation Epic Fury. 4 bombers have been reportedly heard talking with air visitors management on customary air visitors management (ATC) frequencies whereas on the best way again to the U.S. on the finish of the mission.
B-2 Mission
The 4 plane, a part of the PETRO41 flight, have been flying over the Strait of Gibraltar, equally to earlier missions similar to final yr’s Operation Midnight Hammer. Their flight was supported by quite a lot of KC-46 tankers, of which one confirmed that the PETRO41 flight included 4 plane.
The B-2s are on their manner again to Whiteman AFB as PETRO41 flight. They checked in earlier this morning with SEVILLE CONTROL over the Straight of Gibraltar similar to Op Midnight Hammer. I like how the Spanish controller say’s to them, “Adios” 😎🇺🇸💪 pic.twitter.com/IuiTAxkrf5
— Thenewarea51 (@thenewarea51) March 1, 2026
It’s value noting that the PETRO callsign is commonly related to tankers. The KC-46s are mentioned to have used the RCH, or Attain, callsign for this mission. The mix of those callsigns might need been an intentional option to keep away from attracting consideration to the bombers, one other side in frequent with Midnight Hammer.
Earlier immediately 4x(?) KC-46A left from Lajes (LPLA) at 1530Z#AE5E08 – 17-46027 – ?#AE574E – 19-46008 – RCH249#AE63BE – 20-46082 – RCH068?Miscoded hex, fairly certain RCH065?
Might probably be a hand-off to 2x KC-135R out of Rota (LERT) at 1640Z#AE04CA – 60-0360#AE0594 – 58-0128 pic.twitter.com/stpTnzMDjC
— Aux OSINT (@AUX_OSINT) February 28, 2026
The tankers have been captured in a video exhibiting a 30 seconds Minimal Interval Take Off from Lajes Air Base within the Azores. A complete of 5 KC-46s departed the bottom, with one probably being a spare.
5 take-offs in three minutes: USAF KC-46´s taking off from Lajes AFB, filmed by a Portuguese information crew. This was about one hour in the past. pic.twitter.com/s99CYNLIdl
— Air Security #OTD by Francisco Cunha (@OnDisasters) February 28, 2026
This could be one other side which displays earlier spherical journeys from Whiteman Air Power Base, Missouri, and again. In truth, tankers are sometimes staged at Lajes or Naval Air Station Rota, Spain, from the place they’re launched to satisfy the bombers throughout their crossing of the Atlantic Ocean.
#USAF United States Air Power – Center East Activity28 February / 1 March
4 Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit stealth bombers from Whiteman Air Power Base are conducting a round-trip bombing sortie to Iran, and are at the moment on their return journey dwelling. They have been caught returning… pic.twitter.com/zzivwVz8d3
— Armchair Admiral 🇬🇧 (@ArmchairAdml) March 1, 2026
The Pentagon has not but formally confirmed the usage of the B-2 as a part of Operation Epic Fury. Nevertheless, an unnamed U.S. official confirmed to Fox Information’ Jennifer Griffin that 4 B-2s “dropped dozens of two,000 lb bombs on underground ballistic missile websites in Iran.”
NEW: 4 B2 bombers flew spherical journey from the US- dropped dozens of 2000 lb bombs on underground ballistic missile websites in Iran: US protection official tells me.
— Jennifer Griffin (@JenGriffinFNC) March 1, 2026
It must be famous that the usage of the B-2 for the strikes in Iran don’t essentially meant that the GBU-57 Large Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) was wanted. In truth, the bomber can transport a payload of over 40,000 lb (18,000 kg), which might embody both as much as 80 500 lb GBU-38 Joint Direct Assault Munitions (JDAM), 16 2,000 lb GBU-31 JDAM or 16 AGM-158 Joint Air-to-Floor Standoff Missiles (JASSM), simply to say some.
#OperationEpicFury #FreeIran“OPERATION EPIC FURY” BOMBER MISSIONAt final, I can verify that in a single day a flight of 4 B-2A “Spirit” bombers flew continuous from the USA to Iran to assault targets belonging to the regime.
I’m releasing this info now because the bombers… pic.twitter.com/5mmiU4QXl4
— DefenceGeek 🇬🇧 (@DefenceGeek) March 1, 2026
The point out of underground websites would level to the usage of the GBU-31(V)3/B JDAM. This variant of the JDAM bomb is predicated on the two,000 lb BLU-109/B bunker buster.
Second Day of Epic Fury/Roaring Lion
As we transfer into the second day of the joint Israeli/U.S. operation towards Iran, the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) introduced that three U.S. service members have been killed in motion and 5 are critically wounded. The put up on social media talked about that a number of others sustained minor shrapnel accidents and concussions, thus probably linking the casualties on the Iranian assaults towards U.S. bases within the area.
CENTCOM Replace
TAMPA, Fla. – As of 9:30 am ET, March 1, three U.S. service members have been killed in motion and 5 are critically wounded as a part of Operation Epic Fury.
A number of others sustained minor shrapnel accidents and concussions — and are within the strategy of being…
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 1, 2026
CENTCOM additionally responded to the claims by the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) that ballistic missiles struck the usAbraham Lincoln (CVN-72) plane provider. The command says the vessel was not hit, and “the missiles launched didn’t even come shut.”
🚫Iran’s IRGC claims to have struck USS Abraham Lincoln with ballistic missiles. LIE.✅The Lincoln was not hit. The missiles launched didn’t even come shut. The Lincoln continues to launch plane in assist of CENTCOM’s relentless marketing campaign to defend the American folks by… pic.twitter.com/AjaeHMemtA
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 1, 2026
Pictures and movies launched by CENTCOM confirmed the capabilities which have been employed all through the primary day of fight operations. Amongst them seems to be the U.S. Military’s new Precision Strike Missile (PrSM), launched from an M142 Excessive Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS).
The Iranian regime was warned. CENTCOM is now delivering swift and decisive motion as directed. pic.twitter.com/nNDoDexH6g
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 1, 2026
Different capabilities embody, as we talked about in our earlier reporting, the RGM-109 Tomahawk Land Assault Missile (TLAM). Notably, one the TLAMs seems to be painted in a shiny black coating, harking back to the one used on the AGM-158C Lengthy Vary Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM).
First printed picture of a black Tomahawk.
I’m guessing a categorised low observable coating of some kind has been utilized to the missile. pic.twitter.com/50ZxPxUDss
— John Ridge 🇺🇸 🇺🇦 🇹🇼 (@John_A_Ridge) February 28, 2026
One other lately launched functionality is the AGR-20F-armed F-15E Strike Eagle. A picture, a part of a video launched by CENTCOM, reveals a Strike Eagle taking off with 4 LAU-131 A/A rocket pods, every able to carrying seven AGR-20F Fastened Wing, Air Launched, Counter-Unmanned Plane Methods Ordnance (FALCO) rockets, along with 4 AIM-9X Sidewinder and 4 AIM-120C/D AMRAAM air-to-air missiles.
First 24 hours of Operation Epic Fury:
“The President ordered daring motion, and our courageous Troopers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, Guardians, and Coast Guardsmen are answering the decision,” – Adm. Brad Cooper, CENTCOM Commander pic.twitter.com/McrC7xeM0A
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 1, 2026
Different pictures launched by CENTCOM present the F-35C Lightning IIs of the U.S. Marine Corps’ VMFA-314 aboard the usLincoln. Curiously, the photographs clearly present the discoloration brought on by the oxidation of iron-based particles within the jet’s RAM coating, though, as we famous, it doesn’t have an effect on the plane’s LO (Low Observability).
This picture additionally launched by CENTCOM reveals the discoloration even higher. pic.twitter.com/LmoGU8uY0q
— The Aviationist (@TheAviationist) March 1, 2026
Throughout the night time between Feb. 28 and Mar. 1, each side continued their assaults. Notably, UK forces based mostly at RAF Akrotiri intercepted two Iranian missiles that have been flying in the direction of Cyprus, mentioned UK’s Defence Secretary John Healey.
Curiously, RAF Akrotiri is at the moment collaborating in operations with a detachment of U.S. Air Power U-2S Dragon Girl spy plane. In truth, a U-2 was heard chatting with ATC whereas recovering on the British base, which is commonly utilized by the plane.
SNOOP 01 (U-2 spy airplane) simply referred to as NICOSIA ATC descending out of FL600 aka 60,000 ft for restoration again into RAF Akrotiri, Cyprus. 😎🤙 pic.twitter.com/Yg5azqtGZs
— Thenewarea51 (@thenewarea51) February 28, 2026
Iran state media confirmed that the Supreme Chief Ali Khamenei has been killed within the strikes of Feb. 28 on his compound in Tehran. Iranian officers introduced 40 days of mourning, whereas vowing vengeance towards Israel and the U.S.
This was adopted by the claims of the assault towards the usLincoln, denied by CENTCOM, as talked about earlier. Moreover, Iranian state media printed a video of the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Power’s F-4E Phantom II fighter jets, saying they are going to be used to bomb U.S. bases within the area.
Later, the IDF launched footage of airstrikes exhibiting F-4 and F-5 fighters being destroyed on the bottom at Tabriz airfield, in western Iran. Unverified studies point out that F-14 Tomcats may also be among the many plane destroyed on the bottom.
Israeli Air Power airstrike on an Iranian F-4 Phantom at Tabriz Airport this afternoon. pic.twitter.com/y2bjxPu0IP
— OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) March 1, 2026
