The United States Air Force (USAF) is in the process of deploying its next task force of strategic bombers to Europe. The next Bomber Task Force-Europe will fly from the continental US to the US European Command area of responsibility and conduct training exercises with NATO allies for the next several weeks.
US sends new bomber task force to Europe
According to a November 1st US Air Forces Europe – Air Forces Africa release, the long-planned Bomber Task Force deployment will take place in the coming days. En route to their base, the bombers will conduct a ‘Global Power Mission’, an ultra-long-range sortie to project US military capability around the globe. The statement added that the aircraft would be flying on pre-filed flight plans and with all the necessary diplomatic clearances for traversing sovereign airspaces.
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While the announcement did not specify which bases or bomber types are involved, The Aviationist points out that the deployment coincides with cargo activity between RAF Fairford and Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana, the latter being the home base of the 2nd Bomb Wing and its B-52H Stratofortresses. The US strategic bomber fleet includes the B-52 Stratofortress, B-1 Lancer and B-2 Spirit, which have all been deployed on past task forces.
As the only forward operation base for long-range bombers in Europe, RAF Fairford is one of the usual bases for Bomber Task Force deployments, with the last one happening this summer. During their deployment, the bombers will be coordinating with NATO allies and partners on joint training exercises – as laid out by the Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC), Bomber Task Force missions involve
US Strategic Bombers Prepare For Shift To Europe In Latest Task Force
