Latest news with #B-52HStratofortress
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
WATCH: Air Force demonstration over Miami Beach
MIAMI BEACH, Fla. (WFLA) — Air Force fighter and bomber jets took to the skies over Miami Beach in the ninth annual Hyundai Air & Sea Show. The event took place on May 24 and May 25 and brought together all six branches of the military for choreographed demonstrations. The formation in the video was showcased the Air Force Global Strike Command and had never been seen before Saturday. The jets were led by the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber and included a B-1B Lancer, B-52H Stratofortress, F-22 Raptor, F-15C Eagle, F-16C Fighting Falcon, and an A-10 Thunderbolt II. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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First Post
5 days ago
- Politics
- First Post
After Diego Garcia, US deploys warplanes in Guam to beef up Indo-Pacific presence
After Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, the United States has deployed heavy, nuclear-capable bombers in Guam to beef up the military presence in the Indo-Pacific region. read more A B-52 Stratofortress assigned to the 2nd Bomb Wing at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, takes off at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, on April 14, 2023. (Representative Photo, Credit: US Air Force) In what appears to be part of a gradual build-up in the Indo-Pacific region, the United States has now deployed bombers in Guam after deploying more warplanes in Diego Garcia earlier this month. The deployment in Guam comes after the United States deployed B-1B bombers for the first time in Japan last month. While Guam in the western Pacific Ocean is part of the 'second island chain' strategy of the United States to contain China, Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean is critical to operations in Central Command, Africa Command, and European Command. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD US beefs up Inco-Pacific presence with bombers in Guam The US Air Force 2nd Bomb Wing, which operates B-52H Stratofortress long-range, heavy bombers, appears to have deployed an unspecified number of aircraft in Guam. A video cited by Newsweek shows the unit's bombers undergoing maintenance and post-flight inspections at the Andersen Air Force Base in Guam on May 22. The B-52H bombers have a stated range of 8,800 miles and can carry up to 70,000 pounds of payload. They are also capable of carrying nuclear warheads. These aircraft are said to have 'worldwide precision navigation capability' and have a top speed of 650 miles per hour. The news of B-52H's deployment in Guam comes after the United States increased the strength at the Diego Garcia base in the wake of ongoing tense nuclear negotiations with Iran. In March, The War Zone reported that six B-2 bombers were deployed in Diego Garcia and the total number at one point reached 10 — an unusually large number in what was deemed as power projection amid rising international tensions. Even as the B-2s left Diego Garcia, the United States increased the deployment of F-15 fighter planes at the base, according to TWZ. In two tranches, TWZ has reported that the United States has deployed six F-15s in Diego Garcia to provide protection to the base and bombers stationed there. Since the October 7 attack, the base has been used to strike Yemen-based Houthis who have terrorised the Red Sea.
Newsweek
5 days ago
- General
- Newsweek
US Sends New Bombers to Frontline Air Base in West Pacific
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The United States appears to have rotated its bomber fleet to the Western Pacific Ocean by deploying aircraft to Guam, a strategic hub that serves as a staging area for projecting power. Newsweek has reached out to the U.S. Pacific Air Forces for further comment by email. Why It Matters The U.S. often deploys its bombers—consisting of the B-1B Lancer, B-2 Spirit, and B-52H Stratofortress—at bases in the Indo-Pacific region for Bomber Task Force (BTF) missions, including Guam, its westernmost territory in the Pacific Ocean, a Newsweek map shows. Guam serves as the center of the Second Island Chain under the U.S. containment strategy, which seeks to keep adversaries' forces in check. The island also hosts Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps bases that sustain and maintain the American military presence in the region. What To Know The U.S. Air Force 2nd Bomb Wing—a B-52H Stratofortress bomber unit headquartered at Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana—released a video on Saturday indicating that an unspecified number of bombers have been deployed to Andersen Air Force Base in Guam. The video shows a bomber undergoing maintenance and post-flight inspections at the air base on May 22, with its caption stating that BTF missions provide opportunities to train and work with U.S. allies and partners across different combatant command areas of operations. The B-52H bomber is capable of carrying up to 70,000 pounds of nuclear or conventional weapons and features "worldwide precision navigation capability." It has a stated range of 8,800 miles and a top speed of 650 miles per hour, according to a U.S. Air Force fact sheet. This marked the third BTF deployment in the Western Pacific Ocean this year, according to the map created by Newsweek. The last mission saw four B-1B bombers deploy to Misawa Air Base in Japan in mid-April, returning to the U.S. in two flights on May 9 and May 12. A United States Air Force B-52H bomber arrives at Andersen Air Force Base in Guam after completing a Bomber Task Force mission on April 29, 2024. A United States Air Force B-52H bomber arrives at Andersen Air Force Base in Guam after completing a Bomber Task Force mission on April 29, 2024. Tech. Sgt. Eric Summers Jr./U.S. Air Force The map also shows that Andersen Air Force Base hosted another BTF deployment from mid-January to early March, involving a separate group of four B-1B bombers. These bombers are not nuclear-capable and carry up to 75,000 pounds of conventional weapons. It was not clear how long the B-52H bombers will be deployed in Guam. The U.S. Air Force Global Strike Command, responsible for America's bomber force, previously told Newsweek that it is ready to conduct BTF missions "anyplace, anytime, and for any duration required." What People Are Saying The U.S. Air Force 2nd Bomb Wing said: "Bomber Task Force missions demonstrate the credibility of our forces to address a global security environment that is more diverse and uncertain than any other time in recent history." The U.S. Air Force Global Strike Command previously told Newsweek: "Our command is committed to working with U.S. allies and partners to deter aggression in the Indo-Pacific; those allies and partners provide an asymmetric advantage that our adversaries can never hope to match." The U.S. Pacific Air Forces previously told Newsweek: "The U.S. Air Force routinely deploys a variety of aircraft and units throughout the Indo-Pacific area of operations in support of geographic combatant command objectives and training." What Happens Next It remains to be seen when the Guam-based B-52H bombers will execute their first mission since arriving on the Western Pacific island, where tensions remain high in the South China Sea, across the Taiwan Strait, and on the Korean Peninsula.
Forbes
15-05-2025
- General
- Forbes
Air Force Calls For Latvians To Photograph B-52 During Friday Flyover
A B-52 Stratofortress will bly over Riga, Latvia, on Friday. (Photo by Robert ATANASOVSKI / AFP) ... More (Photo by ROBERT ATANASOVSKI/AFP via Getty Images) The United States Air Force will deploy at least one Boeing B-52 Stratofortress bomber to Latvia on Friday, where the aircraft will conduct a flyover of the capital city of Riga. U.S. Air Force Europe-Air Force Africa (USAFE-AFAFRICA) took to social media on Thursday. It encouraged residents to photograph the long-range strategic bomber as it passes over the Monument of Freedom. "[The] B-52H Stratofortress is scheduled to conduct a flyover in Riga, Latvia, above the Monument of Freedom and Lielvārde Air Base on 16 May at approximately 12:00 p.m. local as part of the Bomber Task Force Europe mission set, demonstrating the United States' commitment to security in the Baltic region and across NATO's eastern flank," USAFE-AFAFRICA said in a media statement. In a post on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, USAFE-AFAFRICA further announced the "Photo Contest" and called for those in Riga to "Capture the multinational flyover & submit your photo for a chance to be featured. Take a photo of the B-52 & Allied aircraft during the flyover. Post it on Instagram or Facebook with #RigaFlyer & tag: @usafe_afafrica @HQUSAFE.' The winner will get "a spotlight feature" on the USAFE-AFAFRICA social media feeds. The U.S. Air Force does not typically give advanced notice about Bomber Task Force (BTF) missions; instead, deployments are announced after the aircraft begin to arrive in the region. The most recent BTF 25-2 mission, the second of the service's fiscal year, was carried out from the middle of February to early April and saw at least four B-52s sent to Europe. In this case, USAFE-AFAFRICA employed a social media campaign to alert allies, partners, and potential adversaries of the BTF mission. "The U.S. Air Force is mostly giving the Russians advanced notice they are coming. The Latvians are invited to watch," explained technology industry analyst Roger Entner of Recon Analytics. "It is a way to lean into the social media era," added Dr. Matthew Schmidt, associate professor of national security and political science at the University of New Haven. "It is much like the Air Force equivalent of driving a carrier task force through the Taiwan Strait. It's a presence patrol. They want to be seen. They want it all over in the civilian world because it encourages a sense that the U.S. is there defending its allies." What is also notable about this potential BTF mission is that it isn't just about the fact that the Cold War-era bomber will fly over a former Soviet Republic, but also about the fact that the Air Force is encouraging photos to be taken and shared on Instagram and Facebook. The service routinely releases official images of BTF missions and other deployments of its aircraft, while unofficial photos quickly make the rounds on social media. In this case, USAFE-AFAFRICA may hope that B-52 is a trending topic on Friday. "What's remarkable here isn't just the military maneuver itself, but the way the U.S. is turning a high-level defense operation into a social media moment," said global brand marketing strategist Angeli Gianchandani, adjunct instructor of marketing and public relations. "Encouraging public sharing turns a military signal into a viral one—blurring the lines between defense strategy and public engagement," added Gianchandani, who earned her master's degree at Tuft University's Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy under Admiral James Stavridis. She said this is a textbook example of leveraging soft power, an essential skill in modern diplomacy. "It also reflects the value of strategic transparency as deterrence—keeping things above board, controlling the narrative early, and signaling resolve without crossing into aggression," Gianchandani continued. "By inviting civilians to participate, the U.S. transforms a traditional show-of-force into a public display of alliance solidarity." Friday's planned flight follows the low-pass flyover of Stockholm, Sweden, of two B-52H bombers to observe the first anniversary of the Nordic nation's accession to NATO, while Estonia's Independence Day was also marked with a flyover that included an American B-52, escorted by a Finnish Air Force F/A-18 Hornet and Royal Netherlands Air Force F-35A Lightning II. The upcoming flight promises to be more of the same, notably flying over the monument that was installed to honor the soldiers killed during the Latvian War of Independence (1918-1920). "It projects power in an open and welcoming way, positioning this mission as reassurance, not provocation, and sending a clear message that the U.S. stands shoulder-to-shoulder with Latvia and NATO—in full view of the world," said Gianchandani. "Where we see so much chaos, this move feels unexpected and super smart—turning a routine flyover into a master class in public diplomacy."
Miami Herald
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Satellite Image Shows U.S. Bombers Massing As Iran Tensions Rise
A new satellite image showed the U.S. has sent two additional U.S. B-52 bombers to its Diego Garcia airbase in the Indian Ocean, underscoring Washington's growing long-range strike capability near Iran as tensions persist despite another round of nuclear talks. Newsweek has reached out to the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) and Iran's Foreign Ministry for comment. The images show the significant U.S. expansion of its military presence at the strategic airbase in the Indian Ocean, amid rising tensions with Tehran over its nuclear ambitions. That increases suspicions that the United States could be preparing for an attack on Iran if diplomacy fails. While President Donald Trump has expressed a preference for a peaceful resolution to the nuclear standoff with Iran, he has also warned that military action remains on the table. Iran has meanwhile threatened U.S. targets in the region in the event of any attack. Two more B-52 bombers are now stationed at Diego Garcia, based on a satellite image shared by open-source intelligence researcher MT Anderson on X, one day after he spotted the first two aircraft of the same type. This brings the number of bomber aircraft at the base to 10, including four B-52 bombers, based on satellite imagery and six B-2 stealth bombers, according to Reuters. The B-52H Stratofortress is a long-range bomber capable of carrying nuclear and precision-guided weapons, as well as wide-area maritime surveillance. It was known for its key role in the 1991 Desert Storm Operation against Iraq, according to the U.S. Air Force's website. B-2 stealth bombers and C-17 transport planes were also sent to the remote Indian Ocean base in March, after the U.S. launched an air campaign against Yemen's Houthi forces, which ended on Tuesday after a truce. Trump has said Iran cannot be allowed to acquire nuclear weapons. Tehran has said its nuclear efforts are civilian, not military, but has warned it "will have no choice" but to pursue nuclear weapons if it comes under attack. Iran has threatened to "open the gates of hell" if attacked by the United States or Israel. U.S. President Donald Trumpsaid in April: "I think if the talks are not successful with Iran, Iran is going to be in great danger. Iranian Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh said: "If war is initiated by the U.S. or Israel, Iran will strike their interests, bases and forces wherever they are and whenever necessary." U.S. Air Force: "In a conventional conflict, the B-52 can perform strategic attack, close-air support, air interdiction, offensive counter-air and maritime operations." A new round of nuclear talks is expected in Oman at the weekend and these could help determine whether there is still an opportunity for a diplomatic solution. Related Articles Iran Sends Stark Warning to US: "Gates of Hell"Houthis Send Defiant Warning to Trump: "Quagmire"U.S. B-52 Bombers Step Up Flyovers Near IranRussian Tu-22 Bomber Struck Wrong Black Sea Target 'in Haste': UK 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
