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Miami Herald
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
US Bombers Show Up on Doorstep of Russia's Far East Flank
The United States has stationed a group of four supersonic B-1B bombers in northern Japan, which is located close to Russia's Far East, to "discourage aggression." The deployment, known as the Bomber Task Force mission, enables the U.S. bomber fleet to maintain proficiency, enhance readiness, and strengthen integration with other American or coalition forces, the U.S. Eighth Air Force said in response to a Newsweek email inquiry. Newsweek has also reached out to the Russian Defense Ministry for comment by email. Japan, a key American treaty ally in Northeast Asia, is part of the First Island Chain under a U.S. maritime containment strategy, seeking to restrict Russia's military access to the Pacific Ocean. The U.S. military has deployed multiple air, ground and naval units across Japan. The U.S. bomber force, consisting of the B-1B Lancer, B-2 Spirit, and B-52H Stratofortress, has been conducting Bomber Task Force missions through rotational deployments at American and allied air bases in the Pacific theater since 2018, strengthening deterrence in the region. The Russian military operates near Japan frequently, where the two countries are separated by the sea. From April 2024 to March 2025, the Japanese fighter jets were scrambled a total of 237 times against Russian aircraft that were approaching the nation's sovereign airspace. In a video released by the U.S. Pacific Air Forces on Wednesday, four B-1B bombers were seen parking at Misawa Air Base in Japan for the Bomber Task Force 25-2 mission on April 18. The first pair of B-1B bombers arrived at the air base, which is located in the northern part of the Japanese main island of Honshu, on April 15 from their home station at Dyess Air Force Base in Texas. This marked the first rotational Bomber Task Force mission in Japan. Three days later, the second pair of B-1B bombers assigned to Dyess Air Force Base were tracked flying off the Kamchatka Peninsula in the Russian Far East and heading toward Misawa Air Base. The U.S. Pacific Air Forces confirmed their deployment in Japan on Wednesday. "The ability to operate from multiple locations gives our bomber forces a level of flexibility and allows commanders' to remain unpredictable," the U.S. Eighth Air Force said, adding that each Bomber Task Force mission's length and the number of bombers can be changed. On Thursday, one of the deployed B-1B bombers participated in a large-scale training near the Japanese island of Okinawa with American and Japanese military aircraft, which aimed at strengthening their deterrence and response capabilities, the U.S. Pacific Air Forces said. The B-1B bomber can carry up to 75,000 pounds of bombs and missiles, which is the largest payload of conventional weapons in the U.S. Air Force inventory. It has a maximum speed of Mach 1.2, traveling faster than the speed of sound, with an intercontinental flight range. The U.S. Eighth Air Force said: "We can rapidly deploy and operate from traditional and non-traditional operating locations with varying levels of capacity and support. Any base our bombers do operate out of, allows us to test concepts and develop our tactics, techniques, and procedures to move faster, smarter, and more effectively." The U.S. Pacific Air Forces said: "Bomber Task Force deployments familiarize aircrew with air bases and operations in different Geographic Combatant Commands' areas of operations. This deployment to Japan showcases the United States' commitment to the Indo-Pacific region and our Allies and partners." It remains to be seen where the Japan-based B-1B bombers will conduct further training and exercises during this Bomber Task Force mission. Meanwhile, up to six B-2 bombers are deployed at Diego Garcia, an Indian Ocean island, amid rising tensions in the Middle East. Related Articles US Doubles Stealth Jets Presence Near ChinaUS Prepares South Korea To Face Nuclear Attack by NorthSatellite Image Shows Iran Reinforcing Nuclear ComplexChina Deploys Aircraft Carrier Group in Warning to US and Ally 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
Newsweek
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
US Bombers Show Up on Doorstep of Russia's Far East Flank
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 has stationed a group of four supersonic B-1B bombers in northern Japan, which is located close to Russia's Far East, to "discourage aggression." The deployment, known as the Bomber Task Force mission, enables the U.S. bomber fleet to maintain proficiency, enhance readiness, and strengthen integration with other American or coalition forces, the U.S. Eighth Air Force said in response to a Newsweek email inquiry. Newsweek has also reached out to the Russian Defense Ministry for comment by email. Why It Matters Japan, a key American treaty ally in Northeast Asia, is part of the First Island Chain under a U.S. maritime containment strategy, seeking to restrict Russia's military access to the Pacific Ocean. The U.S. military has deployed multiple air, ground and naval units across Japan. The U.S. bomber force, consisting of the B-1B Lancer, B-2 Spirit, and B-52H Stratofortress, has been conducting Bomber Task Force missions through rotational deployments at American and allied air bases in the Pacific theater since 2018, strengthening deterrence in the region. The Russian military operates near Japan frequently, where the two countries are separated by the sea. From April 2024 to March 2025, the Japanese fighter jets were scrambled a total of 237 times against Russian aircraft that were approaching the nation's sovereign airspace. What To Know In a video released by the U.S. Pacific Air Forces on Wednesday, four B-1B bombers were seen parking at Misawa Air Base in Japan for the Bomber Task Force 25-2 mission on April 18. Four United States Air Force B-1B bombers park at Misawa Air Base in Japan on April 18, 2025, for the Bomber Task Force 25-2 mission. Four United States Air Force B-1B bombers park at Misawa Air Base in Japan on April 18, 2025, for the Bomber Task Force 25-2 mission. Airman 1st Class Mattison Cole/U.S. Air Force The first pair of B-1B bombers arrived at the air base, which is located in the northern part of the Japanese main island of Honshu, on April 15 from their home station at Dyess Air Force Base in Texas. This marked the first rotational Bomber Task Force mission in Japan. Three days later, the second pair of B-1B bombers assigned to Dyess Air Force Base were tracked flying off the Kamchatka Peninsula in the Russian Far East and heading toward Misawa Air Base. The U.S. Pacific Air Forces confirmed their deployment in Japan on Wednesday. "The ability to operate from multiple locations gives our bomber forces a level of flexibility and allows commanders' to remain unpredictable," the U.S. Eighth Air Force said, adding that each Bomber Task Force mission's length and the number of bombers can be changed. On Thursday, one of the deployed B-1B bombers participated in a large-scale training near the Japanese island of Okinawa with American and Japanese military aircraft, which aimed at strengthening their deterrence and response capabilities, the U.S. Pacific Air Forces said. The B-1B bomber can carry up to 75,000 pounds of bombs and missiles, which is the largest payload of conventional weapons in the U.S. Air Force inventory. It has a maximum speed of Mach 1.2, traveling faster than the speed of sound, with an intercontinental flight range. What People Are Saying The U.S. Eighth Air Force said: "We can rapidly deploy and operate from traditional and non-traditional operating locations with varying levels of capacity and support. Any base our bombers do operate out of, allows us to test concepts and develop our tactics, techniques, and procedures to move faster, smarter, and more effectively." The U.S. Pacific Air Forces said: "Bomber Task Force deployments familiarize aircrew with air bases and operations in different Geographic Combatant Commands' areas of operations. This deployment to Japan showcases the United States' commitment to the Indo-Pacific region and our Allies and partners." What Happens Next It remains to be seen where the Japan-based B-1B bombers will conduct further training and exercises during this Bomber Task Force mission. Meanwhile, up to six B-2 bombers are deployed at Diego Garcia, an Indian Ocean island, amid rising tensions in the Middle East.
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
US, British commanders show unity after Trump uncertainties
By Elizabeth Piper FAIRFORD, England (Reuters) - U.S. and British commanders said on Tuesday joint military exercises were vital for providing Europe with a deterrent to Russia, a show of unity after President Donald Trump's overtures to Moscow raised doubt about Washington's commitment to NATO. Air Marshall Johnny Stringer, the British officer serving as NATO's deputy air commander, and U.S. Eighth Air Force Commander Major General Jason Armagost joined forces to praise the Bomber Task Force which had completed nine missions in Europe since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. Both were keen to leave "politics to politicians" when asked about uncertainty of future U.S. cooperation with NATO under Trump, but were clear they both believed the cooperation between the United States and Europe only strengthened security. "What I think what you are seeing here is testament to 75 years of the world's most successful alliance," Stringer said in front of a U.S. B-52H bomber at an airfield in southwestern England where most of the missions had started. "Like all alliances and all relationships over time they have their kind of their ups and their downs but I think a NATO that ... is practising complex but essential deterrence missions across Europe kind of tells its story here on how serious and resolute we are as an alliance." Trump has often cast doubt over U.S. support for NATO allies regularly complaining about members who spend too little on defence, and so far refusing requests from European allies to provide a "backstop" should they send peacekeepers to Ukraine. The two commanders said so far there was no prospect of joint military exercises ending soon. "We plan together, we fly together, we integrate," said Armagost. "The speed with which we can come together and plan and demonstrate capability I think is a very strong thing regardless of the geopolitics ... the strength of that routine operation speaks for itself." Stringer said there was "a standing plan" to keep missions going in what he described as "vital messaging" to Russian President Vladimir Putin. "And as I said they are essential for our own training and to make sure we are, heaven forbid, ready to go (to war) if necessary."
