The “Elephant Walk” maneuvers have become a symbol of the demonstration of airpower in the United States and around the world. Last month, another such activity involved one of the most powerful aircraft in the US: the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber.
The US Air Force (USAF) assembled eight of its 20 stealth planes on the runway at Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri, home to stealth aircraft belonging to the 131st and 509th Bomb Wings. The activity took place during exercise Spirit Vigilance 22, marking the first time that B-2s participate in this type of maneuver.
The exercise, according to the USAF, is focused on increasing the lethality and increasing the readiness of the airmen who and execute the mission of the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber.
“This is a reminder that the B-2 is the visible leg of the nuclear triad”, said Colonel Geoffrey Steeves, commander of the 509th Operations Group. “Simply put, the B-2 is the most strategic aircraft in the world. It is the only aircraft on the planet that combines stealth, payload and long-range attack. We are tasked with delivering the most powerful weapons in the country for our most important missions.”
As explained in other articles, the term Elephant Walk dates back to the Second World War, when a large number of bombers taxied in single file before taking off in a short time for a mission. The name was attributed because the taxiing aircraft resemble a group of elephants walking together to a watering hole.
After World War II, the term was used again during the Vietnam War, this time referring to the formations of B-52 Stratofortress bombers. Even during the Cold War period, it was common to perform Elephant Walks followed by half-time takeoffs.
Today the maneuvers serve more as a demonstration of power, showing the capabilities of deploying a large number of aircraft, in a short time, in a given air base. In the same month the USAF performed an Elephant Walk in Japan with 36 aircraft.
In the case of the B-2, the demonstration is even more significant. The “radar-invisible” aircraft is one of the most important vectors of the North American nuclear triad, precisely because of its long range, payload and stealth capability, which allows it to get close or even penetrate enemy airspace without being detected.
In addition, the B-2 plays an important deterrent role. The USAF explains that “strategic deterrence depends on his adversaries knowing exactly what he can do.”
Putting 40% of the fleet of stealth bombers in the air at once in peacetime is a strong message from Washington to its adversaries, especially China, Russia and North Korea. Beijing carried out a similar operation with its H-6 bombers, while Kim Jong-Un's forces have carried out a series of tests with nuclear-capable missiles, raising tensions in the region.
Geolocated HD video of 🇨🇳 PLAAF H-6K(G)s at Leiyang AB (26.586451, 112.892227). 8 H-6K(G)s participate in an elephant walk, which POV reveals other bombers on apron without shelters.
H-6Ks are from 8th Bomber Div/24th Air Regiment. https://t.co/N0XUSSTnc2 pic.twitter.com/nWM0IR9vUj
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Interestingly, the exercise images were only released by the USAF at the end of November, more than 20 days after the event and in the same week that the B-2 replacement, the B-21 Raider, was officially introduced.
With information from USAF.
