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Airmen with the 841st Missile Security Forces Squadron observe a U.S. Army UH-60 Black Hawk as it departs from Fort William Henry Harrison, Mont., May 31, 2023. The Black Hawk extracted Airmen with simulated injuries from the field in support of Operation Avalanche Defender.

June 8, 2023

Operation Avalanche Defender prepares security forces for future fight

FORT WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON, Mont — Airmen with the 841st Missile Security Forces conducted a four-day simulated deployment exercise from May 30 to June 2 at Fort William Henry Harrison, Mont.

A U.S. Air Force B-1 Lancer approaches to start aerial refueling from a KC-135 Stratotanker assigned to the 912th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron while conducting a Bomber Task Force mission over the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, June 8, 2023.

June 8, 2023

USAFCENT flexes air-to-ground capabilities in historic first for BTF

AL UDEID AIR BASE, Qatar — Ninth Air Force (Air Forces Central) aircraft joined 2 B-1B Lancers over the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, along with five partner nations and other coalition forces, during a Bomber Task Force mission, June 8.

May 31, 2023

USSPACECOM Assumes Missile Defense Mission

PETERSON SPACE FORCE BASE — The President of the United States approved and directed the implementation of the 2022 Unified Command Plan Apr. 25, 2023.

A B-52 arrives at Joint Base San Antonio. The aircraft will undergo installation of a new radar system at a nearby Boeing facility. (Courtesy photo by the Boeing Co.)

May 30, 2023

U.S. Air Force kicks off Radar Modernization for B-52 Stratofortress fleet

BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. — A B-52 from the 307th Bomb Wing arrived at a Boeing Co., facility in San Antonio, on May 25, to begin receiving the Active Electronically Scanned Array system, also known as AESA, as part of the Air Force’s B-52 Radar Modernization Program.

May 24, 2023

Bomber Task Force: Supersonic bombers return to Europe

ROYAL AIR FORCE FAIRFORD, United Kingdom — U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancers returned to RAF Fairford, May 23, for Bomber Task Force Europe 2023-3 to conduct a long-planned bomber rotation in support of U.S. European Command and NATO deterrence initiatives.Two of the Texas-based supersonic bombers from Dyess Air Force Base’s 7th Bomb Wing entered the theater today by first integrating with Allies

A U.S. Air Force B-52H Stratofortress assigned to the 49th Test and Evaluation Squadron, Barksdale Air Force Base, La., prepares to deploy inert Joint Direct Attack Munition QuickStrike Extended Range mines off the coast of Kauai, Hawaii at the Pacific Missile Range Facility in March, 2023.

May 24, 2023

53rd Wing B-52 executes long-range mine test, advancing maritime capabilities in a contested environment

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. — A B-52H Stratofortress attached to the 49th Test and Evaluation Squadron validated the ability to deploy inert Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) QuickStrike Extended Range (QS-ER) mines from a standoff distance of more than 40 miles off the coast of Kauai, Hawaii at the Pacific Missile Range Facility in early March, 2023.

Shown is an illustration of the LGM-35A Sentinel, the Air Force’s newest weapon system known as the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent. The new designation, approved by Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall, modernizes the intercontinental ballistic missile leg of the Nation’s nuclear triad. (U.S. Air Force illustration)

May 23, 2023

Environmental analysis clears Sentinel missile infrastructure construction for takeoff

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas — The construction phase of Sentinel, the Air Force’s multi-billion-dollar missile modernization effort, was cleared for takeoff May 19 as Robert Moriarty, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Installations, signed the project’s environmental record of decision.

May 22, 2023

ROK CWMD director discusses U.S.-ROK Extended Deterrence efforts during visit to USSTRATCOM

Offutt Air Force Base, Neb. — On May 17th, Maj Gen Park Hu Soung, the director of the Republic of Korea Joint Chiefs of Staff's Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction (CWMD) directorate, and Maj. Gen. Robert B. Sofge, Combined Forces Command Assistant Chief of Staff for Strategic Planning and Policy, met with U.S. Air Force Gen. Anthony Cotton, the commander of U.S. Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM).

An Airman installs an AgilePod onto a B-52

May 11, 2023

AgilePod Demo Expands B-52 Communications

BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. — The backbone of the U.S.’s strategic bomber force, the B-52 Stratofortress, will soon demonstrate advanced communications capabilities through the new AgilePod, enabling a modernized, further-reaching, more secure communication on the historic aircraft.B-52 aircrew depend on rapid incoming and outgoing communication—whether that be with other

Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Vice Adm. Tateki Tawara, commander, Fleet Submarine Force, third from the left; speaks with U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Rick Seif, commander, Submarine Group 7, right,; Republic of Korea (ROK) Navy Rear Adm. Su Youl Lee, commander, Submarine Force, second from left; and ROK Navy Lt. Cmdr. Dongkeon Oh, executive officer of ROK Navy submarine ROKS SON WON IL (SS-072), left; during an underway embark aboard the Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine USS Maine (SSBN 741), in vicinity of Guam, April 18. During their time at sea aboard the submarine, the senior leaders were provided tours and demonstrations of the unit’s capabilities, which operates globally under U.S. Strategic Command.

May 4, 2023

First of its Kind Submarine Visit Forges Relationship

NAVAL BASE GUAM — Senior leaders from the navies of Japan, South Korea and the United States visited Naval Base Guam to embark a U.S. Navy Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine operating off Guam, April 18.U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Rick Seif, commander, Submarine Group 7/Task Force 74, was joined on USS Maine (SSBN 741) by Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Vice Adm.