News

A photo of a U.S. Air Force B-52H Stratofortress

Jan. 29, 2021

B-52 Bombers arrive at Andersen AFB for Bomber Task Force Deployment

ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam — Four U.S. Air Force B-52H Stratofortress bombers returned to the Indo-Pacific region Jan. 28 for a Bomber Task Force deployment, conducting operations out of Andersen Air Force Base, Guam.

A U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress from the 2nd Bomb Wing, Barksdale Air Force Base, LA, flew with Royal Saudi Arabian Air Force F-15SAs during a bomber task force mission over the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, Jan. 27, 2021. The bomber deployment underscores the U.S. Military's commitment to regional security and demonstrates a unique ability to rapidly deploy on short notice. The B-52 is a long-range, heavy bomber that is capable of flying at high subsonic speeds of altitudes of up to 50,000 feet and provides the United States with a global strike capability.

Jan. 27, 2021

Bombers showcase airpower in the Middle East

U.S. Central Command — For the third time this year, U.S. Air Force B-52H “Stratofortress” aircrews assigned to the 2nd Bomb Wing, Barksdale Air Force Base, La., successfully completed a presence patrol in the Middle East today.This long-range, short-duration defensive mission was intended to demonstrate the U.S. military’s ability to deploy airpower anywhere in the

An Airman walks across B-2 Spritis.

Jan. 25, 2021

Red Flag 21-1 kicks off at Nellis

NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. — Southern Nevada residents may notice an increase in military aircraft activity from Jan. 25 through Feb. 12 as Nellis begins Red Flag 21-1, one of the U.S. Air Force’s largest combat training exercises.

A U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancer assigned to the 28th Bomb Wing launches in support of a Bomber Task Force deployment from Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., Dec. 4, 2020. The dynamic force employment model empowers a small but agile footprint of maintenance personnel to generate airpower at locations across the globe. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Nicolas Z. Erwin)

Dec. 6, 2020

B-1B Lancers arrive at Andersen Air Force Base for Bomber Task Force deployment

ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam — B-1B Lancers returned to the Indo-Pacific region for a Bomber Task Force deployment, conducting operations out of Andersen Air Base, Guam.

The latest Bomber Task Force (BTF) mission in Europe occurred Thursday over the Barents Sea as a U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress bomber aircraft conducted integration operations with NATO Allies.

Dec. 4, 2020

U.S.-Based B-52 Bomber Conducts Mission Over Barents Sea

Stuttgart, Germany — The latest Bomber Task Force (BTF) mission in Europe occurred Thursday over the Barents Sea as a U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress bomber aircraft conducted integration operations with NATO Allies.

A B-1B Lancer with a Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM) flies in the skies above Edwards Air Force Base, California, Nov. 20. The flight was a demonstration of the B-1B’s external weapons carriage capabilities. (Air Force photo by Ethan Wagner)

Nov. 24, 2020

Global Power Bomber CTF conducts B-1B external captive carry demonstration

EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, California — The B-1B Lancer’s expanded carriage capabilities comes one step closer to fruition following an external captive carry flight over the skies of Edwards Air Force Base, California, Nov. 20.

A B-52H Stratofortress on the flightline on Nov. 20, 2020, at Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jesse Jenny)

Nov. 21, 2020

Bomber Task Force mission demonstrates regional commitment in CENTCOM AOR

U.S. Air Force B-52H “Stratofortress” aircrews assigned to the 5th Bomb Wing, Minot Air Force Base, N.D., conducted a short-notice, long-range mission into the Middle East on Nov. 21 to deter aggression and reassure U.S. partners and allies.

A SM-3 Block IIA is launched from the USS John Finn, an Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System-equipped destroyer, Nov. 16, 2020, as part of Flight Test Aegis Weapons System-44 (FTM-44). FTM-44 is a developmental test satisfying a Congressional mandate to evaluate the feasibility of the SM-3 Block IIA missile's capability to defeat an ICBM threat. The SM-3 Block IIA was originally designed and built for the Intermediate-range Ballistic Missile threat set.

Nov. 17, 2020

U.S. successfully conducts SM-3 Block IIA Intercept Test against an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Target

FORT BELVOIR, Va. — The U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA), and U.S. Navy sailors aboard the USS John Finn (DDG-113), an Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) System-equipped destroyer, intercepted and destroyed a threat-representative Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) target with a Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) Block IIA missile during a flight test demonstration in the broad ocean area northeast of Hawaii, Nov. 16.

Aircrew with the 9th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron raise the landing gear of a U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancer during take-off in a joint interoperability exercise at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, Nov. 13, 2020. Participating in the exercise allowed B-1 aircrews to obtain training that could be imperative in the future missions as they continue to stay committed to the security and stability of the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. David Owsianka)

Nov. 13, 2020

Dyess Airmen participate in Indo-Pacific joint exercise

ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam — Airmen with the 9th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron (EBS) participated in a joint interoperability exercise to test long-range force packaging and demonstrate global reach capabilities in the Indo-Pacific region, Nov. 12.

A B-52H Stratofortress aircraft takes off as part of Exercise Global Thunder 21, on Oct. 23, 2020 at Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota. U.S. Strategic Command conducts global operations in coordination with other combatant commands, services and appropriate U.S. government agencies to deter, detect and, if necessary, defeat strategic attacks against the United States and its allies.

Oct. 28, 2020

U.S. Strategic Command concludes key command, control exercise

OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. — U.S. Strategic Command, once again successfully concluded GLOBAL THUNDER 21, today, after rigorously and realistically testing its forces and validating the safety, security, effectiveness and readiness of the strategic deterrent enterprise.