Category: US Airforce

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Defense News in Brief: SecAF, CSAF visit Whiteman AFB following Operation Midnight Hammer

Source: United States Airforce

Department of the Air Force leaders commended top performers within the 509th and 131st Bomb Wings during a visit to Whiteman AFB.

WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. (AFNS) —  

Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin visited Whiteman Air Force Base on July 10 to commend Airmen on the success of Operation Midnight Hammer.

U.S. Air Force Col. Joshua Wiitala, 509th Bomb Wing commander, right, greets Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink at Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri, July 10, 2025.
Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink is greeted by Col. Joshua Wiitala, 509th Bomb Wing commander, at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., July 10, 2025. Department of the Air Force leaders visited Whiteman AFB to commend members following Operation Midnight Hammer, the largest B-2 Spirit operational strike in U.S. history. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Joseph Garcia)

The June 21 operation saw seven B-2 Spirit deliver an overnight strike on three Iranian nuclear facilities, the largest B-2 operational strike in U.S. history. In a timeline of just weeks, members of the 509th and 131st Bomb Wings turned strategic planning of an unprecedented operation into global execution.

“The success of this mission demonstrates the precision and potency of a combat-ready Air Force and strategic innovation,” Meink said. “The warfighting capability of the Total Force Airmen here and the B-2 Spirit was tested with the world watching, and Team Whiteman performed flawlessly.”

The complex operation incorporated decoy bombers that flew west over the Pacific Ocean. This deceptive tactic was known ahead of time by only a select few mission planners at Whiteman AFB and key leaders at the Pentagon and U.S. Central Command headquarters. The seven aircraft that executed the mission deployed a total of 14 GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrators, which was the first operational use of the “bunker buster” bombs.

Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink coins an Airman at Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri, July 10, 2025.
Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink coins an Airman at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., July 10, 2025. Department of the Air Force leaders visited Whiteman AFB to commend members following Operation Midnight Hammer, the largest B-2 Spirit operational strike in U.S. history. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Joseph Garcia)

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Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin meet with members of the 509th and 131st Bomb Wing leadership team at Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri, July 10, 2025.
Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin meet with members of the 509th and 131st Bomb Wing leadership team at Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri, July 10, 2025. Department of the Air Force leaders commended top performers within the 509th and 131st Bomb Wings during the base visit. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Joseph Garcia)

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U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin shakes hands with an Airman at Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri, July 10, 2025.
Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin shakes hands with an Airman at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., July 10, 2025. Allvin serves as the senior uniformed Air Force officer responsible for the organization, training and equipping of active-duty, Guard, Reserve and civilian forces serving in the U.S. and overseas. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Joseph Garcia)

During their visit, the senior leaders thanked the members at Whiteman AFB who contributed to the operation and coined those who exemplified excellence throughout all stages of the mission.

“The U.S. Air Force’s ability to project airpower globally with minimal notice is unmatched,” Allvin said. “Our advantage stems from Airmen who are mission-focused and able to adapt to a rapidly evolving strategic landscape. The Airmen here have set the standard for operational precision and execution.”

U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin speaks with Airmen at Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri, July 10, 2025.
Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin speaks with Airmen at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., July 10, 2025. Allvin serves as the senior uniformed Air Force officer responsible for the organization, training and equipping of active-duty, Guard, Reserve and civilian forces serving in the United States and overseas. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Joseph Garcia)

The pressure of the high-stakes mission was not only felt by the B-2 pilots and operation’s planners. Given a deadline of nearly one week, Airmen assigned to the 509th Maintenance Group were tasked with building and loading the GBU-57 MOPs, refueling the aircraft, and performing preflight inspections ensuring the bombers could carry out their lengthy flights and deploy the weapons.

“I could not be prouder of the men and women of Team Whiteman,” said Col. Joshua Wiitala, 509th Bomb Wing commander. “Operation Midnight Hammer showed the world that we are ready to deliver precision global strike when called upon. We are humbled by the recognition the team is receiving from our nation’s leaders for their perseverance and dedication to our one-of-a-kind mission.”

Being the only installation in the world to operate a stealth bomber makes Whiteman AFB an integral component to U.S. Strategic Command’s mission of deterring strategic attack. As showcased by Operation Midnight Hammer, the B-2 is not only a visible shield, but an invisible sword, ready to deliver lethality – anytime, anywhere.

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Defense News in Brief: 354th AEW provides combat airpower to REFORPAC 25

Source: United States Airforce

During the exercise the 354th AEW will rapidly deploy and regionally maneuver fifth-generation capabilities like the F-35A Lightning II while executing Agile Combat Employment techniques.

ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam (AFNS) —  

The 354th Air Expeditionary Wing is participating in exercise Resolute Force Pacific 25, to test its ability to quickly and effectively command and control air assets throughout the Pacific, July 10 – August 8.

REFORPAC 25 is the largest Air Force contingency training exercise in the Pacific, training military members to maintain readiness and execute missions under stress throughout multiple locations in the Pacific, including Guam, Japan, and international airspace.

“REFORPAC will demonstrate how our Airmen generate and employ lethal combat airpower at effective scale and scope to achieve combatant commander objectives,” said Col. Matthew Johnston, 354th Air Expeditionary Wing commander. “Collaborating with our allies, partners, and Joint Forces we will validate our ability to maintain robust command and control in the region while maneuvering our forces and executing missions.”

During the exercise the 354th AEW will rapidly deploy and regionally maneuver fifth-generation capabilities like the F-35A Lightning II while executing Agile Combat Employment techniques.

Airmen attend meeting.
Airmen with the 354th Air Expeditionary Wing attend a welcome brief with multinational and joint partners at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, as Resolute Force Pacific 25 gets underway July 11, 2025. REFORPAC is part of the first-in-a-generation Department-Level Exercise series, employing more than 350 Joint and coalition aircraft and more than 12,000 members at more than 50 locations across 3,000 miles. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Andrea Posey)

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F-35 taking off from runway.
An F-35A Lightning II from the354th Air Expeditionary Wing arrives in Guam for exercise Resolute Force Pacific 25, July 12, 2025. REFORPAC is designed to deliver Air Force capabilities to the Indo-Pacific region at speed and scale, then demonstrate the ability to command and control agile combat employment operations across more than six time zones. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Andrea Posey)

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F-35s parked on flightline.
F-35A Lightning II’s from the 354th Air Expeditionary Wing park on the flight line in Guam for Resolute Force Pacific 25 exercise, July 12, 2025. REFORPAC is part of the first-in-a-generation Department-Level Exercise series, employing more than 350 Joint and coalition aircraft and more than 12,000 members at more than 50 locations across 3,000 miles. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Andrea Posey)

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“The women and men of the 354th AEW are focused on generating combat airpower while optimizing and enhancing the asymmetric advantages we have in the free and open Indo-Pacific,” said Lt. Col Erik Gonsalves, 355th Mission Generation Force Element commander. “We’re using intense training exercises like REFORPAC to test and refine our skills in unique situations and austere locations, challenging us to solidify or update our gameplan to ensure we are ready to respond swiftly and effectively.”

Large scale exercises like REFORPAC make the 354th AEW more capable of delivering lethal airpower to combatant commanders in defense of national military objectives.

“REFORPAC demonstrates the U.S. commitment to the region by building interoperability, multilateral cooperative arrangements with our Allies and partners, advancing common interests, and ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific region,” said Johnston. “By working with our multinational and joint partners the 354th AEW becomes a stronger and more capable wing that demonstrates our collective commitment to maintaining regional stability.”

REFORPAC is part of the first-in-a-generation Department-Level Exercise series, a new way of conducting operations in a contested, dynamic environment to build capabilities making a stronger, more lethal deterrent force. The DLE series encompasses all branches of the Department of Defense, along with allies and partners, employing more than 400 Joint and coalition aircraft and more than 12,000 members at more than 50 locations across 3,000 miles.