News United States Air Force
 B-52s demonstrate bilateral, joint force integration in Indo-PacificPublished June 25, 2020
                        
                        By Staff Sgt. Mikaley Kline
                        
                        
                        Pacific Air Forces Public Affairs
                **JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii (AFNS) --**
                Two U.S. Air ForceB-52H Stratofortress bombers integrated with the Koku-Jieitai, or Japanese Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) fighters and U.S. Navy E/A-18G Growlers over the Sea of Japan, June, 17.



The bombers, currently deployed to Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska from the 2nd Bomb Wing,Barksdale AFB, Louisiana, are supporting Bomber Task Force missions to demonstrate the United States’ unwavering commitment to the security and stability of the Indo-Pacific region.



During this mission, the B-52s conducted long-range escort and intercept training with four JASDF F-2s and 12 F-15s to enhance the readiness and security of the region.



“These strategic bomber missions provide our Airmen with the realistic, long-duration sorties that they require to remain highly proficient and ready to act when called upon to support the collective defense of the United States,” said Lt. Col. Christopher Duff, the 96th Bomb Squadron commander from Barksdale AFB. “Deploying in an expeditionary format challenges our aircrews, maintainers and support personnel in different theaters, further demonstrating the credibility of our forces to be agile and provide long-range global-strike capability, anywhere in the world, and at any time.”



In addition, the bombers conducted integration training with E/A-18G Growlers from Electronic Attack Squadron 209, the “Star Warriors” deployed toMisawa Air Base, Japan.



In line with the National Defense Strategy’s objectives of strategic predictability and operational unpredictability, the U.S. Air Force transitioned its force employment model to enable strategic bombers to operate forward in the Indo-Pacific region from a broader array of overseas and CONUS locations with greater operational resilience.



The BTF missions enable a mix of different types of strategic bombers an opportunity to train alongside allies and partners in a joint environment and to build interoperability to bolster their ability to support a free and open Indo-Pacific.



This latest BTF follows a June 14 mission involving a B-52 integrating with**F-22 Raptors** and Royal Canadian Air Force CF-18 Hornets to conduct intercept training over the Beaufort Sea in support of North American Aerospace Defense Command.



The B-52 has been the backbone of the U.S. strategic bomber force for more than 60 years. It’s capable of dropping or launching the widest array of weapons in the U.S. inventory. The Air Force currently expects to operate B-52s through 2050.LR 



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