Pacific Perspective:Bomber Deployments to Indo-Pacific Highlight Regional Tensions

US Air Force Global Strike Command deployed four nuclear-capable B-52H Stratofortress strategic bombers of the 23rd Expeditionary Bomb Squadron out of Minot Air Force Base,North Dakota,to Andersen Air Force Base,Guam on 12 and 14 June 2023,along with 150 Airmen.Said Lt.Col. Ryan Loucks,Bomber Task Force commander:Being here in the Indo-Pacific with the BTF allows our forces to showcase our ability to deploy anytime,anywhere in support of the combatant commander's objectives.*Among the current tensions in the region are North Korea's ongoing ballistic missile tests,including ICBMs with nuclear capability that can reach the US;China's militarisation of coral reefs in the South China Sea and its threats to Taiwan;China's expansive territorial claims not recognised by the international community;as well as growing military cooperation and drills by Russia and China.Bomber Task Force missions maintain a high state of readiness and validate an always-ready global strike capability.The strong,credible strategic bomber force enhances security and stability of US Allies and Partners.* U.S. Strategic Command's (STRATCOM) BTF operations ensure the command can provide decisive response against any threat when called upon by national leadership,Minot AFB said.*A further deployment of B-52s occurred when 20th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron out of Barksdale Air Force Base,Louisiana contributed an unspecified number of B-52s to the combatant commander on 5 July 2023 at Andersen AFB.Said Lt.Col. Jared Peterson,20th EBS commander:Each mission flown further demonstrates our ability to provide agile combat-ready forces and long-range strike capabilities to combatant commanders around the globe.* Indeed,on 10 July 2023,2 B-1B Lancer strategic bombers out of Dyess AFB,Texas were deployed to Misawa Air Base,Japan on a separate BTF rotation.Once the bombers had arrived,they flew integration drills over the Korean Peninsula and made a first ever BTF landing in Indonesia.A third mission involved deploying to Exercise Northern Edge in the Gulf of Alaska at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson.