B-52 bombers sent on 44-hour non-stop flights from Louisiana to Australia in mock bombing run amid growing tensions with China 

  • Planes flew 9,400 miles in 'bomber assurance and deterrence' mission
  • Vintage craft are capable of unleashing 70,000lbs of weapons
  • Soaring tensions in South China Sea over building in disputed territories

By Kate Pickles For Mailonline

Published: 10:46 EST, 4 August 2015 | Updated: 13:14 EST, 4 August 2015

A pair of B-52 bombers flew non-stop for 44 hours from Louisiana to Australia on a simulated bombing run to bolster allies in Asia against a growing Chinese threat. 

The vintage planes, built in the 1950s, lifted off from the Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana, last month in what the Pentagon described as a 'bomber assurance and deterrence' mission.

It sent a message to Australia and the nations of South East Asia that the United States is willing and capable of assisting its allies.

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Message: Two B52 bombers were sent on a long distance flight from the US to the Northern Territory to show America's global reach 

Message: Two B52 bombers were sent on a long distance flight from the US to the Northern Territory to show America's global reach 

But it has also been reported as a demonstration to China of the U.S. military's continued global reach amid soaring tensions in the South China Sea over its building of islands and military facilities on disputed territory, news.com.au reports 

The mission was given a low public profile but US Navy Admiral Cecil D Haney admitted it was significant.

In a statement, he said: 'These flights are one of the many ways the US demonstrates its commitment to a stable and peaceful Indo-Asia Pacific region.'

They used the 200,000 hectare Delamere air weapons range about 120km south of the Tindal RAAF base near Katherine.

The planes are capable of unleashing 70,000lbs of weapons, conventional or nuclear, almost anywhere on the planet.

It has a range of 8,000 miles on one fuel tank, and can travel 650mph at altitudes as high as 50,000ft. 

Super bomber: The long-range heavy bomber, pictured here dropping loads of M117 750lb bombs, is capable of carrying nuclear weapons (stock photo). The US sent two planes on a non-stop flight to Australia 

Super bomber: The long-range heavy bomber, pictured here dropping loads of M117 750lb bombs, is capable of carrying nuclear weapons (stock photo). The US sent two planes on a non-stop flight to Australia 

Long distance flyer: Two B52 bombers flew 44-hours non-stop from the US to the Northern Territory in signal of defensive capabilities

Long distance flyer: Two B52 bombers flew 44-hours non-stop from the US to the Northern Territory in signal of defensive capabilities

Ready to fly: The long-range attack plane has flown non-stop to the Northern Territory from Louisiana

Ready to fly: The long-range attack plane has flown non-stop to the Northern Territory from Louisiana

The airport at Darwin is one of only a few in the Asia-Pacific region with a runway long enough to accommodate the massive bombers.

The test run has ignited interest in the role the nuclear-capable bombers will play in Australian/US defense relations following suggestions they would be based in the Northern Territory were denied by Prime Minister Tony Abbott earlier this year.

It was blamed on U.S. assistant secretary of defense David Shear 'misspeaking' when he testified before the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee in May that bombers and surveillance aircraft would be deployed to Australia.

The suggestion was then quickly denied by a US Embassy spokesman in Canberra.

China expressed 'serious concern' at such a move, asserting it would 'resolutely uphold its territorial sovereignty'.

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