A NATO First:Bomber Task Force Mission in Romania

Air Force Global Strike Command News Release:U.S. Air Forces in Europe - Air Forces Africa 23 JUL 2024,Two U.S. Air Force Boeing B-52H Stratofortress strategic bombers arrived at Mihail Kogaliceanu Air Base,Romania out of Barksdale Air Force Base,Louisiana for Bomber Task Force 24-4 on 21 JUL 2024.*While flying in international airspace and in accordance with international law,the U.S. B-52 aircraft were intercepted by two Russian aircraft over the Barents Sea,Arctic Region,at approximately 8 a.m. Central European Time.They did not change course due to the intercept and continued along their scheduled flight plan without incident,the Air Force said.The B-52s performed their pre-planned mission of integrating with NATO fighter aircraft before landing in Romania.While deployed,the B-52s will operate as the 20th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron across the U.S. European Command (USEUCOM) Area of Responsibility (AOR).Said GEN James B. Hecker,USAFE-AFAFRICA commander:In today's global environment,it is vital that we be postured to deliver a range of sustainable capability from great distances.This iteration of Bomber Task Force offers an excellent opportunity to refine our Agile Combat Employment (ACE) tactics,techniques and procedures (TTPs).Through collaborative efforts with our Allies,the U.S. enables our forces to combat current and future threats.*Bomber Task Force missions are not announced in advance to give potential adversaries pause.They emphasise Air Force Global Strike Command's ability to deploy forces anytime,anywhere throughout the globe.Through these missions,USAFE-AFAFRICA enables Dynamic Force Employment (DFE) to the European theatre,providing strategic predictability and assurance for Allies and Partners,while contributing to deterrence and defence by introducing greater operational unpredictability for potential adversaries.*Continued GEN Hecker:The U.S. is dedicated to work alongside our Allies and Partners along the Eastern Flank to ensure we have the combined skills and coordination capabilities to maintain regional safety,security and stability.*Regular routine deployments of U.S. strategic bombers demonstrate how the U.S. and NATO are ready,postured and well-prepared to deter threats,and,if necessary,defend the Alliance.*Boeing (BA)

U.S. Air Force, NATO. B-52H Stratofortress strategic bombers. Arrival in the UK. - YouTube

Members of the 69th Exepeditionary Bomb Squadron out of Minot Air Force Basa,North Dakota are executing Bomber Task Force Mission 24-3 in the European Theatre of Operations under U.S. European Commnand (USEUCOM).Deployed under Air Force Global Strike Command,they will be providing assurance,interoperability training and deterrence,while sowing doubt in the minds of potential adversaries because of the unpredictability of such deployments,the Air Force said.Two Boeing B-52H Stratofortress nuclear-capable strategic bombers arrived at RAF Fairford on 20 May 2024,and a third arrived the following day.*Boeing (BA)

Spring Storm 24/Swift Response 24:British Army is Ready to Defend Estonia Today

British troops are practising warfighting on NATO's Eastern Flank in NATO Exercise Spring Storm 24.The drills are part of NATO's Defender Europe 2024,the largest NATO exercise since the Cold War,with over 90,000 military personnel participating.Spring Storm simulates a Russian attack on Estonia.In Spring Storm,Estonia is hosting an annual military exercise led by an Infantry Division of its Estonian Defence Forces.The goal is to train in defensive joint operations with Allied Units,focusing within a scenario covered by NATO Article V,an attack on one is an attack on all.Participants include military forces from Estonia,the UK,Denmark,France,the US and Finland,with Republic of Georgia and Ukraine participating as observers.The drills run from 12-31 May 2024.According to the UK news outlet The Independent,BG Giles Harris,commander of British forces in the Baltics,said:It's very urgent.I'm not going to second guess what may or may not happen,but as military personnel,our job is to be ready.There is no point in waiting to be ready.We should be ready now.And what's playing out in Ukraine provides us with the lessons that we nee to learn.Our mindset is whether it's today or tomorrow,we must make ourselves ready to defend every inch of Estonian land if necessary.In the minds of the Soldiers,the strategic purpose and context in which we're doing this training has definitely changed.The fact that we are doing this so close to Russia brings it home why it's so important to be here.*Said BG Mark Berry,commander of 16 Air Assault Brigade:I don't consider any of the activities my Soldiers conduct is a show.My role is to make sure that Soldiers have the right training opportunities and feel ready and prepared to work together with Allies or on their own.We do,of course,send messages to whoever will listen.We want to make clear our forces are ready...they're capable of working with each other.In any specific time frame,when we are training we are looking for lessons from conflict zones,anywhere that has a lesson we can take.*Said LTC David Lambert of the Army Air Corps:The training is generally as realistic as it gets.There is no artificiality in this.It's just as good training from the lowest level all the way to the top.We are ready to fight today.*In the overlapping Swift Response 24,the U.S. led Immediate Response Force will carry out joint operations to enhance readiness;foster interoperaability;and contribute to NATO's assurance and deterrence efforts.Aligned with U.S. European Command's (USEUCOM) North/South exercise campaign,it involves both command post exercises and field training drills.Paticipants include the US and France,with USEUCOM leading the initiative.It runs from 14 May-14 June 2024 in Poland,Latvia,Lithuania,Estonia and the Republic of Georgia.

US Army, NATO. Soldiers of the 173rd Brigade during combat exercises in Germany

This is the 173rd Airborne Brigade,a US Army Airborne Infantry Brigade Combat Team (IBCT) out of Vicenza,Italy.It is the strategic response force of U.S. European Command (EUCOM).

Securing the High North:Air Force Global Strike Command Sends B-2 Spirits to Iceland

On 13 August 2023,over 150 Airmen amd three B-2 Spirit strategic bombers out of Whiteman Air Force Base,Missouri arrived at Keflavik Air Base,Iceland.They will engage in Bomber Task Force missions,according to U.S. Air Forces in Europe amd Air Forces Africa.Across the globe,U.S. Strategic Command (STRATCOM) routinely orchestrates BTF operations to not only showcase the US commitment to collective defence,but also to seamlessly integrate with operations conducted by our Geographic Combatant Commands.This BTF initiative was designed to bolster U.S. European Command's (EUCOM) overarching security mandate across the European continent,while also affording aircrews the opportunity to acclimate themselves to the intracacies of joint and coalition operations in foreign locations.Said General James Hecker,commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe,U.S. Air Forces Africa and NATO Allied Air Command:Each BTF mission underscores the prowess of our armed forces in navigating today's intricate and unpredictable global security terrain,with the focus on fostering stability,security,and freedom across Europe.In resolute unity,the US upholds our nation's commitment to foster peace and stability in Europe,unwaveringly collaborating with Allies and Partners to thwart challenges against the sovereignty of nations across the region.* The expeditionary bomb crew is led by Lt.Col. Andrew Kousgaard,commander of 393rd Expeditionary Bomb Squadron.Lt.Col. Kousgaard emphasised Dynamic Force Employment,a strategy that combines strategic unpredictability with operational adaptability:The B-2 bomber is arguably the most strategically significant airplane in the world,but that doesn't mean it's inflexible:dynamically deploying the bombers forward is a unique and important capability.*The BTF mission bolsters combat readiness,providing the US and NATO leaders with strategic options to assure,deter and defend against adversary aggression against the Alliance,throughout Europe and across the globe,bolstering our collective response to any global conflict.The current BTF missions will integrate operations with our Icelandic Allies and expert capabilities within the European region.The 393rd Expeditionary Bomb Squadron practises Agile Combat Employment (ACE),providing Airmen with the tools necessary to accomplish their mission in austere environments with lilited resources,ensuring the B-2 Spirit's mission of strategic deterrence,anytime and anywhere.Lt.Col. Kousgaard added that being able to:conduct operations out of anywhere and tactically unpredictable is really important to hold adversaries at risk and assure Allies that we're able to share in some national defence:Our host nation has been phenomenal and we're excited to continue our work here.*During their BTF missions,the B-2s will carry out real world surveillance and long range strike missions if necessary.* According to The War Zone blog,one of the B-2 Spirits flew from Iceland to Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson,Alaska on a mock strike mission,utilising its distributed and extremely long-range capabilties for bomber operations over the increasingly strategic Arctic Region.The B-2 flew first into the high north,deep into the Arctic Circle and close to the North Pole,The War Zone indicated.* Air Force Global Strike Command was stood up on 7 August 2009 to provide combatant commanders the forces needed to conduct strategic nuclear deterrence and global strike operations.They continue to adapt,innovate and modernise to always be prepared for emerging threats,such as Russia and China's forays into the Arctic Region with joint naval task forces and Russia's recent Arctic buildup on both old and new military bases.

US Army, NATO. Special Forces "Green Berets" train with allies in Europe.

Note:Bosnia and Herzegovina received a NATO Membership Action Plan (MAP) in 2018,but has yet to meet the conditions of it.It remains a NATO Partner.