Tuesday, October 15, 2019

Bomber Task Force Arrives in Europe as Destroyer Enters Black Sea

On the night of 10 October 2019,at least four US Air Force B-52H Stratofortress heavy bombers departed Barksdale AFB, Louisiana on a flight to RAF Fairfield, England.The 2nd Bomb Wing aircraft are set to conduct integration and interoperability training with European Allies and Partners,USAF Global Strike Command said.The BTF will exercise the ability of USAF Global Strike Command to conduct bomber operations from a Forward Operating Base in support of US Air Forces in Europe (USAFE) and US European Command (EUCOM) mission objectives.*
The training by Airmen in a joint environment will greatly enhance global stability and security while familiarising them with operations in a different region,GSC added. Details of future operations will not be disclosed in the interest of operational security,GSC stated.*
Contributing to our ready and​ postured forces, the deployment will build enduring and strategic relationships necessary to confront a broad range of global challenges, according to USAFE.*
Meanwhile, the guided-missile destroyer USS Porter (DDG-78) has entered the Black Sea and made a port call at Odessa, Ukraine.Five Ukrainian officers will observe sea-and-anchor operations on the Porter.US 6th Fleet said:
These operations enhance regional maritime stability, combined readiness and naval capability with our NATO Allies and Black Sea Partners.*
The ongoing series of robust operations began when Russia invaded and annexed Crimea, Ukraine and backed subversion in Eastern Ukraine in 2014.*
The Porter transited the Bosphorus Strait on 12 October, Turkish ship spotters reported.*
The naval operations also demonstrate the US commitment to freedom of navigation in that Russia considers the Black Sea its sphere of interest.Earlier in the year, Russian forces fired on and seized two Ukrainian Navy vessels and imprisoned 24 Ukrainian Sailors for transiting the Kerch Strait in the Black Sea Region.The Sailors were recently released in a prisoner exchange with Russia.*

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