U.S. Air Force B-2 Spirit bomber. Photo: DVIDS, as credited in the original article.
The U.S. Air Force’s B-2 Spirit strategic bomber has recently conducted live-fire precision strike training, combining bomber operations and weapons employment with the command, control and target-designation capabilities of Joint Terminal Attack Controllers (JTACs). The training is designed to improve personnel’s understanding of the full kill-chain process and maintain combat readiness.
In August, B-2 bombers operated by the U.S. Air Force’s 325th Weapons Squadron conducted precision strike training with JTAC personnel from the 66th Weapons Squadron at the Nevada Test and Training Range (NTTR), successfully hitting designated targets. The exercise integrated air strikes, ground-based command and coordination, and target designation, testing personnel on weapons accuracy, timing and joint targeting under realistic conditions.
325th Weapons Squadron Combines Training With Advanced Tactics Development
Related reports indicate that the 325th Weapons Squadron is responsible not only for routine operational training but also for developing advanced tactics, complex mission-planning techniques and weapons employment procedures. Live-fire exercises therefore serve not simply to verify bombing accuracy, but also to assess broader operational processes and tactical employment.
In June 2025, U.S. B-2 bombers participated in Operation Midnight Hammer against Iran, carrying the GBU-57 A/B Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP), known for its bunker-busting capability, to strike underground nuclear facilities at Isfahan, Natanz and Fordow. The operational experience provides a real-world reference for subsequent training and tactical evaluation.
By incorporating lessons from previous combat operations into training and instruction, U.S. forces can further evaluate the complete kill chain, from mission planning and communications coordination to target designation and weapons employment. This approach helps identify potential problems in planning, command and control, or execution before an actual combat mission is conducted.
B-2 Remains a Strategic Strike Asset Ahead of B-21 Introduction
Since entering service in 1997, the B-2 has remained a key strategic strike platform for the U.S. Air Force, providing long-range precision strike and the ability to penetrate highly contested airspace. Through continued live-fire training and tactical validation, the B-2 will retain an important role within the U.S. strategic bomber fleet.
Until the next-generation B-21 Raider becomes operational, the B-2 will continue to carry a significant share of U.S. strategic bomber missions. The live-fire precision strike training also highlights the U.S. military’s continued emphasis not only on advanced platforms and weapons, but also on maintaining an effective kill chain spanning intelligence, target designation, command and control, and precision strike.
Originally published by Little Liao in Asia Horizon Review on Medium