B-2 Spirit Stealth Bombers Now Using Long-Range Anti-Ship Missiles
B-2 幽靈隱形轟炸機現可使用長程反艦飛彈
Introduction
The United States Air Force has publicly shown that the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber can now use long-range anti-ship missiles during a joint maritime exercise.
美國空軍在一次聯合海上演習中公開展示，B-2 幽靈隱形轟炸機現可使用長程反艦飛彈。
Main Body
During Exercise Valiant Shield 2026 in the Philippine Sea, a B-2 Spirit aircraft successfully fired an AGM-158C Long Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM). This action led to the sinking of the USS Juneau, an old transport ship used for target practice. The operation was a coordinated effort involving several aircraft, such as the P-8A Poseidon and F-35C Lightning II, while a Japanese submarine delivered the final blow with a torpedo.
在菲律賓海進行的 2026 年「勇猛盾牌」演習（Exercise Valiant Shield 2026）中，一架 B-2 幽靈轟炸機成功發射了一枚 AGM-158C 長程反艦飛彈 (LRASM)。此行動導致 USS Juneau 號被擊沉，該艦是一艘用於目標練習的舊運輸船。此次行動是由多款飛機協同完成，例如 P-8A 海神式偵察機與 F-35C 閃電 II 戰機，最後由一艘日本潛艇以魚雷完成最終擊沉。
This change in strategy is a response to the growth of the Chinese navy, which the Pentagon expects will reach 435 ships by 2030. Although other aircraft already use these missiles, the B-2's stealth technology allows it to enter dangerous airspace and attack important naval targets without being detected. This gives the U.S. a clear advantage because China does not yet have an operational stealth bomber.
此次策略調整是為了應對中國海軍的成長，五角大廈預計到 2030 年中國海軍將達到 435 艘艦艇。雖然其他飛機已在使用這些飛彈，但 B-2 的隱形技術使其能進入危險領空，在不被偵測的情況下攻擊重要海軍目標。由於中國目前尚未擁有可運行的隱形轟炸機，這使美國擁有明顯優勢。
Furthermore, the B-2 has shown its versatility in other missions, such as using heavy bombs against Iranian facilities. These recent sea tests are preparing the military for the B-21 Raider, a next-generation stealth plane arriving in 2027. This new platform will be designed to carry a wide variety of long-distance and direct-attack weapons.
此外，B-2 在其他任務中也展現了其多功能性，例如使用重型炸彈攻擊伊朗設施。最近的這些海上測試是為了讓軍方為 2027 年登場的下一代隱形飛機 B-21 突擊者 (B-21 Raider) 做準備。這個新平台將被設計為能攜帶各種長距離及直接攻擊武器。
Conclusion
The U.S. military has successfully proven that the B-2 can attack ships, which increases its strategic options in the Western Pacific.
美國軍方已成功證明 B-2 可以攻擊軍艦，這增加了其在西太平洋的策略選項。
Vocabulary Learning
🚀 The "Power-Up" Upgrade: From Basic to Strategic
At an A2 level, you describe what happens. At a B2 level, you describe why it matters and how it connects to other things.
Look at this sentence from the text:
*"This change in strategy is a response to the growth of the Chinese navy..."
The B2 Secret: Nominalization Instead of saying "The navy is growing, so the US changed its strategy" (A2 style), the author uses "the growth of the Chinese navy" (B2 style). They turned a verb (grow) into a noun (growth). This makes the sentence sound professional, academic, and decisive.
🛠️ How to pivot your language:
| A2 Approach (Verb-heavy) | B2 Approach (Noun-heavy/Strategic) | Why it's better |
|---|---|---|
| The B-2 can enter airspace without being seen. | Its stealth technology allows it to enter undetected. | It identifies the tool causing the result. |
| The military is preparing for the B-21. | These tests are preparing the military for the B-21. | It links a current action to a future goal. |
| China doesn't have a stealth bomber yet. | China does not yet have an operational stealth bomber. | Adds a precise adjective (operational) for clarity. |
💡 Pro-Tip: The "Advantage" Connector
Notice the word "Furthermore".
Stop using "And" or "Also" at the start of every sentence. When you want to add a strong, supporting point to your argument, use Furthermore. It signals to the reader: "I have already given you one reason; now I am giving you an even more important one."
Example flow:
- A2: The B-2 can hit ships. Also, it hit Iranian facilities.
- B2: The B-2 has proven its effectiveness against naval targets. Furthermore, it has shown versatility in missions against land facilities.