US Air Force. Powerful fighter jets during Northern Edge military exercise

USAF Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson,Alaska Exercise Northern Edge is a U.S. Indo-Pacific Command exercise designed to provide high-end,realistic warfighting practise and improve joint interoperability,enhancing the combat readiness of partiipating forces.*Boeing (BA),Lockheed Martin (LMT)

CENTCOM:B-1B Lancers Participated in Retaliatory Raids - plus what radio experts revealed about their mission

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed that Rockwell B-1B Lancer strategic bombers participated in retaliatory raids against Iranian Republican Guards Corps (IRGC) Quds Force and afiiliated miltia groups in Iraq and Syria.Both Iraq and Syria denounced the raids which they said amounted to aggression.Beginning on 2 February 2024,radio experts ascertained that B-1Bs were on the move.The bombers are out of Dyess Air Force Base,Texas.The Lancer bombers communicate via a UHF satellite,and one is able to piece the puzzle together based on snippets of information from these communications only an expert can put together.* The experts ascertained that the 2-3 B-1Bs were refueled over Nova Scotia,Canada by KC-135 Stratotankers.They then proceeded across the Atlantic Ocean until they reached Spain,where the were again refueled by KC-135s out of the UK.Air Force Global Strike Command deploys B-1Bs as needed.For this mission,the bombers were to fire precision cruisse missiles at seven sites and across 85 targets in Iraq and Syria.They typically carry up to 24 Northrop Grumman AGM-158B JASSEM-ER subsonic cruise missiles.Their targets included command centres;drone and rocket arsenals;and thier production facilities.Thermal images of the target guide these missiles with an acccuracy of less than 9.8 ft. from the targets.The warheads can strike on impact,be set for delayed impact or set to splinter into fragments.Dozens of militants were reportedly killed in the raids.*The Department of Defense will continue to strike militants at a time and place of their choosing.* The original builder of the B-1B,Rockwell,became part of Rockwell Collins,which again morphed into Collins Aerospace,now a subsidiary of Raytheon Corporation.*Northrop Grumman (NOC),Raytheon Corporation (RTX)

US Air Force, NATO. Powerful F-16C fighters refuel in the air during an exercise in Finland

US Air Force Goes All In for NATO - multiple deployments

This month the US Air Force is making a strong effort to bolster Europe's confidence and security with a series of deployments that include the fifth generation Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor.On 11 April,12 F-22s were deployed to RAF Lakenheath,England.It is the largest ever deployment to Europe of the multi-role fighter aircraft,and only the second ever deployment of F-22s to the US European Command Area of Responsibility.
On 25 April,two of the Lakenheath F-22s were forward-deployed to Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base,Romania,along with about 20 supporting Airmen from 95th Fighter Squadron out of Tyndall Air Force Base,Florida.The Raptors will remain at MK for a brief period of time before returning to Lakenheath,US Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa explained.
Today,we deployed these aircraft,along with a KC-135 Stratotanker,here to showcase our flexible response and our range of capabilities,said Lieutenant General Timothy Ray,3rd Air Force commander.These aircraft have the ability to project air dominance quickly,at great distances,to defeat any possible threat.*
The F-22 deployments also prove that European bases and other NATO installations can host fifth generation fighters while also affording the chance for familiarisation flight training within the European theatre,according to the Air Force.*
It is important we test our infrastructure,aircraft capabilities,and the talented Airmen and allies who will host these aircraft in Europe,said General Frank Gorenc,USAFE-AFA commander.This deployment advances our airpower evolution and demonstrates our resolve and commitment to European safety and security,GEN Gorenc added.*
Earlier in the month,12 USAF Boeing F-15C Eagles arrived in Europe as part of the next Theater Security Package in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve.While in theatre the F-15s and some 350 Air National Guard personnel will participate in a variety of missions,including supporting the NATO Air Surveillance mission in Iceland at Keflavik International Airport;deploying to Leeuwarden Air Base,Netherlands;and forward deploying to other locations in European NATO and other partner nations.The aircraft will remain in Europe through September.*
The deployment to Iceland is especially critical as Iceland,apart from its small Coast Gurad,has no armed forces,and Russia has made incursions into Icelandic airspace.Russia has been stepping up its North Atlantic activity in general of late.For example,in 2014,Russia staged an operational-strategic exercise of more than 100,000 troops;in 2015,an unannounced exercise with 45,000 troops,41 warships and 15 submarines displayed full combat readiness in the area.
In a further response to Russia's threatening stance,the Pentagon plans to restore Cold War hangars and infrastructure at Keflavik for basing US Navy Boeing P-8A maritime surveillance aircraft.*
Beyond Iceland,6 F-15s will be deployed to NATO partner Finland in May.*
These TSP rotations are an excellent investment given the exceptional benefit to training,operational readiness,and our alliances and partnerships,EUCOM noted,enhacing interoperability among the services and partner military training while also bolstering our capability that enables us to continue our reassurance measures.*
Boeing (BA),Lockheed Martin (LMT)

NATO'S Massive Winter Exercise in Norway with B-52s

A sizeable NATO exercise,Cold Response 2016,involving about 16,000 air,ground and maritime forces from 12 countries is running in the Trondelag region of Central Norway through 9 March.The troops will collectively develop tactics,techniques and procedures for extreme cold-weather combat operations.
Of special interest is the deployment of three US Air Force B-52H Stratofortress strategic bombers from Barksdale Air Force Base,Louisiana to participate in the exercise.The aircraft landed at Moron Air Base,Spain on 27 February.
We appreciate the opportunity to take part in such a large multinational exercise at the invitation of our Norwegian allies,and we are especially thankful to test our skills in such unique cold-weather conditions,said Lieutenant Colonel Dennis Cummings,2nd Expeditionary Bomber Group Commander.*
During the drills,the B-52s will execute multiple sorties,simulating strikes against ground targets in the training area.The nuclear-capable heavy bomber can deliver large payloads of precision nuclear or conventional ordnance over long distances,while providing decision makers the option of rapid military power projection.*
Other US participants in Cold Response 2016 include KC-135 Stratotankers;F-16 Fighting Falcons;and C-130 Hercules transports for ground forces support.

US Forces Arriving in Eastern Europe

A constellation of US forces including the destroyer USS Truxtun(DDG 103),as well as US Air Force planes and troops,have begun arriving in Eastern Europe to conduct planned yet augmented exercises,as well as bolster NATO's presence in the face of the Russian invasion of Crimea,Ukraine.The Truxtun docked at Constanta,Romania on Saturday,March 8 prior to visiting the Bulgarian port of Varna.The US warship will be honing such interoperational skills as divisional tactics,passing and helicopter landings with the Romanian and Bulgarian navies.Black Sea exercises by the three NATO allies have been postponed by a day,however,because of poor weather in the western Black Sea.*
In 1988,two US Navy ships,the cruiser Yorktown and destroyer Caron,were slightly damaged when Russian warships sideswiped them in the Black Sea.The Russian navy is currently blockading Ukrainian navy warships in Crimea.*
Up to 30,000 Russian troops are in Crimea now.They have surrounded several Ukrainian military bases and demanded their surrender.As well,on Tuesday Russian troops seized the control tower of Crimea's main international airport,cancelling all flights except those to and from Russia.On Monday,Russian troops seized a Ukrainian missile base and military hospital.
The Ukrainian troops will not resist,acting Ukrainian President Oleksander Turchynov said,because Russia has massed tank divisions on Ukraine's eastern border,and would use resistance as an excuse to invade the Ukrainian mainland.*
Meanwhile,US Air Force assets began arriving in Lithuania last Thursday.Six F-15C Eagle fighters and a KC-135 tanker,along with more than 60 airmen from RAF Lakenheath,England have stepped up NATO's presence in the Baltic state,which is near Russia.NATO has also dispatched two AWACS reconnaisance aircraft to the area.*
The first of 12 US Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons,two C-130s and more than 300 troops began arriving in Poland on Monday,the Polish Defence Ministry said.The rest will arrive later this week.There had already been an exercise planned before the Ukraine crisis,but not of this scope.
In April,three more C-130s and 100 airmen from Ramstein Air Base,Germany are scheduled to arrive for joint training with Polish forces,the US Air Force announced last week.