The United States Air Force (USAF) is sending six B-52H Stratofortress strategic bombers to the island of Diego Garcia located in the central Indian Ocean, CNN reported on Monday.<br /><br />Citing an unnamed U.S. official, CNN said that the six B-52s will be available for operations against Iran if ordered. Their deployment, however, does not signal that military operations have been ordered, CNN added on social media.<br /><br />The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) did not officially confirm the dispatch of the bombers citing operational security concerns.<br /><br />Diego Garcia is located more than 4,800 kilometers (3,000 miles) from the southern edge of Iran, which would put the U.S. airbase on the island out of range of medium-range ballistic missiles launched from Iran.<br /><br />The USAF currently operates 58 B-52H long-range, heavy strategic bombers. The B-52H is capable of flying at high subsonic speeds at altitudes up to 50,000 feet (15,166.6 meters) and can carry nuclear cruise missiles and a conventional payload of up to 70,000 pounds (31,500 kilograms).
