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.*

The Donbas War:US Air Force Spy Plane Arrives as Ukraine Sets Up Its New Naval Base

A new front in the Donbas War in Eastern Ukraine may be opening up in the Sea of Azov,a bay-like body of water at the top of the Black Sea fronted by Ukraine to the west and Russia to the east.And with this development,the United States has taken a step in greater involvement in the conflict by sending a sophisticated reconnaissance aircraft to possibly assist NATO partner Ukraine with intelligence support for the naval base project.
On 22 September 2018,the Russian FSB (KGB successor) announced that ships of the FSB Coast Guard were dispatched to intercept two Ukrainian Navy ships that had entered the "exclusive economic zone" near Russian-annexed Crimea.These intercepted ships were the Ukrainian Navy's A 500 Donbas search&rescue ship and A 830 Korets seagoing tug.They had departed from Odessa,Ukraine on 20 September and were enroute to Mariupol and then Berdyansk,where the new naval base is going up.The two Ukrainian vessels were accompanied by small armoured artillery boats P 177 Kremenchuk and P 178 Lubny,which had been dispatched from the port of Berdyansk to support the Donbas and the Korets.
Meanwhile,at about 1200 hours local time,a US Air Force RC-135 Rivet Joint reconnaissance aircraft began operations over the Kerch Strait area.The Kerch Strait is the narrow channel between the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov.Crossing the Strait is an illegal Russian-built bridge connecting the Taman Peninsula to Crimea which has been criticised by Ukraine and NATO.*
One of the FSB armed Coast Guard ships was the patrol ship Ametist (project 22460) which,with two other unidentified FSB patrol ships intercepted the Ukrainian Navy ships when they passed the Crimean city of Sevastopol.One of the FSB Coast Guard ships violated international norms by coming too close to the Ukrainians.Recall that the Ukrainian ships were transiting the Black Sea at this point to reach the Sea of Azov by way of the Kerch Strait.*
The Ukrainian ship Donbas will strengthen the Ukrainian Navy's fleet infrastructure on the Sea of Azov,helping establish the headquarters,barracks,warehouses and other critical facilities which are currently lacking.As well,on 12 September,Colonel General Serhiy Popko,commander,Ukrainian Ground Forces,said Ukraine would augment its ground forces near the Sea of Azov with permanent territorial defence structures,missile and artillery forces,plus Ukrainian Air Force assets,to provide a "reliable coastal defence."*
The RC-135V is considered a premier SIGINT collection platform.The US Air Force has 17 RC-135s,which are converted Boeing airliners that have been operational and upgraded since 1964.The RC-135 has participated in every major conflict since that time,and the UK has acquired its own Rivet Joint aircraft.*
As the Ukrainian ships approached the Kerch Strait,they were met by more than 10 FSB Coast Guard ships and Russian Navy warships,while also being buzzed by low-flying Russian aircraft.Nonetheless,the Ukrainian Navy ships made it safely to their objective.*
The Stratfor Company,a noted consultancy and publisher in the strategic and international studies field,made the following remarks on the Sea of Azov crisis:
The military buildup could lead to growing economic disruption of shipping in and out of the sea.Russia is stronger than Ukraine on the sea,but robust US support for Kiev could alter the situation in the area.
As a result of growing tensions,a flare-up is now entirely possible,especially if the United States brings its weight to bear in the conflict.*
The Boeing Company (BA)