B-52s deploy in support of exercise Cold Response

OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. - Three B-52 Stratofortresses and more than 200 Airmen assigned to the 2nd Bomb Wing, Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, deployed today to Moron Air Base, Spain.

The multi-role heavy bombers will integrate and train with U.S. European Command components and regional allies and partners by participating in the Norwegian exercise Cold Response during this short-term deployment.

“Strategic bomber deployments enhance the readiness and training vital to rapidly projecting global power and responding to any potential crisis or challenge,” said Adm. Cecil D. Haney, U.S. Strategic Command commander. “Supplementing U.S. European Command’s forward presence with B-52s exercises the forward operating locations that enable our collective defense capabilities while demonstrating our ability to command, control and conduct global bomber operations.”

Haney also highlighted that bomber operations provide a unique and complementary capability to the intercontinental ballistic missile and ballistic missile submarine legs of the triad, which underpin strategic deterrence.

One of nine DoD unified combatant commands, USSTRATCOM has global strategic missions, assigned through the Unified Command Plan, which include strategic deterrence; space operations; cyberspace operations; joint electronic warfare; global strike; missile defense; intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; combating weapons of mass destruction; and analysis and targeting.