B-52 conducts long-range training with Colombia

OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. – A B-52 Stratofortress from Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, conducted a long-range training sortie to engage with South American military partners, April 1-2, 2016.

During the course of the 27-hour non-stop mission, the aircrew trained with the Colombian air force before executing a flyover of the Feria Internacional del Aire y del Espacio in Santiago, Chile.

“This bomber mission is just one of many demonstrations of our ability to maintain a credible strategic defense force,” said Adm. Cecil D. Haney, U.S. Strategic Command commander. “Within the last year, U.S. Strategic Command bomber forces have conducted missions with Canadian, Colombian, Australian and Jordanian forces in national and international airspace. In addition to the outstanding training value realized by the U.S. and our partners, these missions demonstrate the credibility of our forces to address a global strategic and security environment that is more diverse and uncertain than at any time in our history.”

U.S. Strategic Command routinely displays its capability to command, control and conduct global bomber missions, most recently by deploying B-52s into the U.S. European Command and B-2 Spirits into the U.S. Pacific Command areas of responsibility earlier this month.