The US Air Force’s (USAF) B-52 Stratofortress that are assigned to the 2nd Bomb Wing at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana have completed a round-trip mission to Australia.
This 44-hour non-stop mission displayed the capacity of the US to project its flexible, long-range global strike capability.
The mission was oordinated with the Australian Department of Defence. It allowed the USAF bombers to offer number of opportunities to synchronise strategic activities and capabilities with its ally.
It also saw the B-52s integrating with the Royal Australian Air Force ground forces in the region.
The forces conducted an inert conventional weapons drop on the Delamere Air Weapons Range, while performing a low-approach at RAAF Base Tindal.
US Strategic Command commander admiral Cecil Haney said: "These flights are one of the many ways the US demonstrates its commitment to a stable and peaceful Indo-Asia Pacific region.
"In addition to strengthening aircrew skills and enhancing their familiarity with operating worldwide; combined training and theatre security cooperation engagements with our regional allies serve to improve our interoperability and capability to respond to any potential threat together."
Last month, three B-52s were deployed to Royal Air Force Fairford, England, to perform training flights with ground and naval forces around the region. The aircraft also participated in multinational exercises Baltic Operations and Saber Strike 2015.
In May, two B-52s joined with the Jordanian Forces in US Central Command’s exercise Eager Lion 2015, which included a nonstop, more than 30-hour sortie from the continental US to the US Central Command (USCENTCOM) area of operations.
Image: A B-52H Stratofortress is marshalled to a stop at Barksdale Air Force Base, after a 44-hour sortie. Photo: courtesy of US Air Force photo / Senior Airman Benjamin Raughton.
