A B-52 exercises Dynamic Force Employment with Joint partners in Indo-Pacific

By Staff Sgt. Hailey Haux, Pacific Air Forces Public Affairs / Published July 05, 2020

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An F/A-18 Super Hornet attached to the “Diamondbacks” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 102 conducts air operations while flying with aircraft from the Nimitz Carrier Strike Force. The USS Nimitz (CVN 68) and USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) Carrier Strike Groups are conducting dual-carrier operations in the South China Sea as the Nimitz Carrier Strike Force. (U.S. Navy photo by Lt. Cmdr. Joseph Stephens)

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A U.S. Air Force B-52H Stratofortress bomber, deployed from Barksdale Air Force Base, La. lands at Andersen Air Base, Guam, July 4, 2020. The B-52 flew the 28-hour mission to demonstrate U.S. Indo-Pacific Command’s commitment to the security and stability of the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Nicholas Crisp)

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A 2nd Bomb Wing aircrew member conducts a Foreign Object Debris check on the flight line at Barksdale Air Force Base, La., before a B-52H Stratofortress takes off in support of a U.S. Strategic Command Bomber Task Force, July 2, 2020. The USSTRATCOM regularly conducts BTF operations across the globe as a demonstration of U.S. commitment to collective defense and integration with Geographic Combatant Command operations and activities. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Tessa B. Corrick)

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A U.S. Air Force B-52H Stratofortress bomber, deployed from Barksdale Air Force Base, La., lands at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, July 4, 2020. The B-52 flew the 28-hour mission to demonstrate U.S. Indo-Pacific Command’s commitment to the security and stability of the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Richard P. Ebensberger)

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A B-52H Stratofortress takes off in support of a U.S. Strategic Command Bomber Task Force from the flight line at Barksdale Air Force Base, La., July 2, 2020. The USSTRATCOM regularly conducts BTF operations across the globe as a demonstration of U.S. commitment to collective defense and integration with Geographic Combatant Command operations and activities. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Tessa B. Corrick)

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A B-52H Stratofortress taxis down the flight line to take off in support of a U.S. Strategic Command Bomber Task Force from Barksdale Air Force Base, La., July 2, 2020. USSTRATCOM BTF operations provide opportunities to work and train with allies and partners, and strengthen capabilities. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Tessa B. Corrick)

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Aircraft from the Nimitz Carrier Strike Force and a B-52 Bomber from Barksdale Air Force base conduct integrated joint air operations in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific. The USS Nimitz (CVN 68) and USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) Carrier Strike Groups are conducting dual-carrier operations in the South China Sea as the Nimitz Carrier Strike Force. (U.S. Navy photo by Lt. Cmdr. Joseph Stephens)

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Barksdale aircrew exit a bus before taking off in a B-52H Stratofortress from Barksdale Air Force Base, La., in support of a U.S. Strategic Command Bomber Task Force, July 2, 2020. BTF missions familiarize aircrews with air bases, procedures and operations in different Geographic Combatant Command’s areas of operations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Tessa B. Corrick)

JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii --

One B-52 Stratofortress bomber from the 96th Bomb Squadron, 2nd Bomb Wing, Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, took off from home station and participated in a maritime integration exercise with the USS Nimitz and USS Ronald Reagan carrier strike groups in the South China Sea before landing at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam.

The B-52 flew the 28-hour mission to demonstrate U.S. Indo-Pacific Command’s commitment to the security and stability of the Indo-Pacific region.

This was part of a bomber task force dynamic force employment used by U.S. Strategic Command to conduct training with and in support of Geographic Combatant Commands efforts to help maintain global stability and security. These type of missions support the National Defense Strategy’s objectives of strategic predictability and operational unpredictability.

“Bomber Task Force demonstrates U.S. capability to rapidly deploy to a forward operating base and execute long-range strike missions,” said Lt. Col. Christopher Duff, 96th Bomb Squadron commander. “This sortie demonstrates our ability to reach out from home station, fly anywhere in the world and execute those missions, rapidly regenerate from a forward operating base and continue operations.”

During the mission, the B-52 aircrew tested and assessed command and control capabilities to inform the development of contested and degraded communication tactics, techniques and procedures to ensure seamless joint interoperability.

"As we operate throughout the Indo-Pacific theater, our Fleet units continue to seek out every opportunity to strengthen our capabilities and proficiency at conducting joint, combined, all-domain operations with our partner teams,” said U.S. Navy Cmdr. Joshua Fagan, Task Force 70 Air Operations officer. “Some of the recent events bringing Air Force B-52s and B-1s, Navy aircraft, and our ships at sea together on shared networks in support of integrated missions have been good opportunities for us to exercise the joint mission planning and coordination processes that we depend on to operate safely and effectively out here."

U.S. Strategic Command’s bomber forces regularly conduct combined theater security cooperation engagements with allies and partners, demonstrating U.S. capability to command, control and conduct bomber missions around the world.

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