March 1, 2024

BTF 24-2 bombers return home after Global Guardian

Luleå, SWEDEN — U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancers assigned to the 28th Bomb Wing, Ellsworth AFB, S.D., conducted a cross-combatant command mission from their deployed location at Luleå-Kallax Air Base, Sweden, in support of Global Guardian, Feb. 29, 2024.

Aug. 30, 2023

B-2 Spirit Conducts Historic Hot Pit Refueling in Norway

Orland, Norway — A B-2 Spirit bomber from Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., conducted a historic hot pit refueling at Orland Air Base, Norway on Aug. 29, 2023. The occasion marked the first time that the B-2 has landed in Norway, signaling the shared commitment between the U.S. and Norway to deter threats and strengthen the NATO Alliance. Three B-2 Spirit bombers are currently forward deployed from Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., to Keflavik Air Base, Iceland, in support of Bomber Task Force Europe 23-4. Hot pit refueling within NATO countries allows for the B-2 to expand its fuel range and minimize its time on the ground. By exercising the ability to conduct hot pit refueling in strategic locations, the U.S. and our Allies are able to increase combat airpower throughout the European theater. “Hot-pit refueling emerges as a transformative tactic in bomber operations, promising heightened versatility,” said Gen. James Hecker, commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe & Africa and NATO Allied Air Command. “This clever technique extends our reach, establishing temporary operational hubs at strategically chosen and even unpredictable locations. These adaptive capabilities are the core of modern airpower projection.” The ability of U.S. forces and equipment to operate in conjunction with our Allies and Partners is critical to bolstering an extended network of alliances and partnerships capable of decisively meeting the challenges of today and tomorrow. "The long-range, penetrating strike the B-2 provides is a truly unique capability in the world; but long range requires a lot of gas. Honing our ability to interoperate with our allies and utilize partner-nation equipment and infrastructure to refuel can significantly reduce what we often call our ‘tanker bill;’ in some cases it could be the difference between mission success and failure," said U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Andrew Kousgaard, 393rd Expeditionary Bomb Squadron commander. As B-2 operations in Europe continue, this historic refueling highlights U.S. and Norwegian cooperation and the ability of U.S. Forces to collaborate with Allied and Partner nations to confront a broad range of global challenges. Information and imagery related to the latest BTF 23-4 can be found on USAFE official website: https://www.usafe.af.mil and on DVIDS at: https://dvidshub.net/feature/bombertaskforceeurope.

Sept. 30, 2020

B-1B Lancers cross Arctic Circle to train with Nordic allies

EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska (AFNS) — The 345th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron, a total force integration unit comprised of Reserve Airmen from the 307th Bomb Wing and the 7th Bomb Wing, flew B-1B Lancers conducted training with the Norwegian air force, crossing the North Pole to accomplish the mission.

May 12, 2020

Ellsworth B-1s return to European Theater as part of latest BTF mission

ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. — B-1B Lancers from Ellsworth conducted a second long-range strategic Bomber Task Force mission in the European theater that included key interactions with U.S. assets as well as Danish and Polish forces May 11, 2020.

Sept. 23, 2019

Barksdale AFB bomb wings support Cobra Warrior

BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. (AFNS) — The exercise featured more than 50 fighter aircraft from Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy and Israel. The large-scale exercise, based out of RAF Waddingham, United Kingdom, had aircraft flying in simultaneously to participate in peer-to-peer scenarios.

Sept. 5, 2019

RAF F-35s train with US Air Force B-2 bombers for the first time

DOVER, United Kingdom —

April 15, 2019

2019 BTF comes to an end

RAF FAIRFORD, England — More than 450 personnel and six B-52 Stratofortresses from Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, returned home following a short-term deployment to RAF Fairford, England, in support of U.S. Strategic Command’s Bomber Task Force in Europe, April 11, 2019.