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The Entry of Strategic Bombers in the War on Iran – A Military Analysis of the Stages of the Air Campaign
In military science, air wars are not waged randomly; they are conducted according to a precise operational sequence aimed at gradually dismantling the enemy’s capabilities. What is currently unfolding in the confrontation between the United States, its allies, and Iran serves as a clear example of this type of complex operation. The military campaign launched under Operation Epic Fury reflects a clear application of the American air doctrine, which entails first striking defense systems, followed by extensive strategic bombing.
The first stage of any air war against a country with an advanced air defense network involves what is known militarily as the destruction or crippling of enemy air defenses. During this stage, reliance is placed on the most capable and stealthy aircraft, such as the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber.
This aircraft is distinguished by its ability to operate within highly protected airspace due to its stealth design and advanced electronic systems. Its mission is to strike radars, command and control centers, and anti-aircraft missile platforms. The objective is to disable the air defense network and open the way for other aircraft to operate in subsequent phases of the campaign.
Once the air defense system has been weakened, the second phase of air operations begins, where the scope of attacks is expanded using faster and more flexible bombers like the B-1B Lancer.
This aircraft is used to conduct intense strikes employing precision-guided munitions, typically targeting air bases, weapon storage facilities, ballistic missile sites, and field command centers. The goal of this phase is to reduce the targeted state’s ability to manage military operations or launch effective counter-strikes.
The third phase is marked by the entry of heavy strategic bombers like the B-52 Stratofortress into the theater of operations. Although this aircraft was designed in the 1950s, it remains one of the most powerful bombing platforms in the world due to the technological upgrades it has undergone over the decades.
One B-52 bomber can carry dozens of tons of munitions, including cruise missiles and guided bombs. It is typically used to strike long-range strategic targets such as ballistic missile bases, high command centers, and sensitive military installations.
In American military doctrine, the presence of these heavy bombers in the theater of operations often indicates that the attacking forces have achieved a significant degree of air superiority. These large aircraft are generally not employed in the early stages of a war when air defenses are at full strength.
However, achieving air superiority does not necessarily mean the complete elimination of the enemy’s defensive capabilities. Countries with mobile defense systems or short-range surface-to-air missiles can continue to pose a threat to attacking aircraft even after experiencing extensive strikes.
These operations reveal the nature of modern warfare, which increasingly relies on technological superiority and control of airspace. In many contemporary conflicts, the first phase of the war is resolved in the skies before the confrontation escalates to large-scale ground operations.
The use of a mix of stealth aircraft and strategic bombers also reflects a shift in military doctrine toward multi-phased operations aimed at crippling the enemy’s military capabilities and dismantling its combat structure before moving on to other phases of the conflict.
In this context, what is happening today in the air war against Iran provides a clear model of how major powers manage modern wars. The offensive begins with disabling air defenses, followed by targeting military infrastructure, and then progresses to strategic bombing aimed at reducing the enemy’s ability to continue fighting.
