Air Force to send bomber task force to Europe

The Air Power plans to quickly ship its newest process power of strategic bombers to Europe to coach with NATO allies.

U.S. Air Forces Europe-Air Forces Africa mentioned on Friday that the bomber process power deployment will start “within the coming days,” and would final a number of weeks. However particulars in regards to the deployment are scant, and USAFE declined to say what sort of and what number of bombers would make up the duty power, once they would arrive in Europe, and the place they might be stationed, citing operational safety considerations. The Air Power flies B-1 Lancer, B-2 Spirit and B-52 Stratofortress bombers.

The bombers will prepare and perform missions with NATO allies and companions, USAFE mentioned, and would “demonstrat[e] the U.S. dedication to international safety and stability.” The deployment has been “long-planned,” USAFE mentioned.

“Our dedication stays steadfast to making sure the readiness and strategic flexibility of our forces as they assist regional safety and our allied partnerships within the area,” USAFE mentioned in a follow-up electronic mail.

That bomber deployment was one in all two introduced Friday. The navy additionally plans to ship B-52s, alongside fighters and Navy ships, to the Center East to discourage Iran and its proxies. Tensions within the Center East stay excessive because the battle in Gaza rages on after greater than a yr, and following Israeli strikes on Lebanon and Iran. Iranian Supreme Chief Ayatollah Ali Khamenei this weekend threatened to quickly conduct a “crushing response” to Israel’s strikes on the nation’s navy.

The battle in Ukraine, which is nearing its third yr, additionally marks the heaviest preventing in Europe since World Conflict II. The Air Power has despatched a number of bomber process forces to Europe since then to sign assist for NATO allies and deter Russia from additional aggression.

Since 2018, the Air Power has usually rotated bombers abroad as a part of process forces as a substitute of completely stationing them overseas. That enables the bombers to coach and function abroad for a number of months – in addition to deter potential adversaries – earlier than returning to the U.S. for extra in depth upkeep and stateside coaching. The navy additionally was involved that stationing bombers abroad for lengthy intervals may go away them weak to assault.