Two U.S. Air Force B-52H Stratofortress bomber aircraft, assigned to the 2nd Bomb Wing from Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, landed at Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base on Sunday, July 21, for Bomber Task Force (BTF) 24-4.
The deployment aims to enhance the coordination and integration of U.S. and NATO forces to ensure regional security and stability.
“The U.S. is dedicated to working alongside our NATO Allies along the eastern flank to ensure we have the combined skills and coordination capabilities necessary to maintain regional safety, security, and stability,” said General James Hecker, USAFE-AFAFRICA commander.
While en route to Romania, the B-52s were intercepted by two Russian aircraft over the Barents Sea at approximately 8 a.m. Central European Time. Despite the interception, the B-52s maintained their course and continued their scheduled mission without incident. The mission included integration exercises with NATO fighter aircraft before landing at Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base.
Bones are back! U.S. 🇺🇸B-52 arrived in Europe & will operate with #NATO allies out of Romania 🇷🇴for the first time.
Such multilateral missions enable dynamic force employment in Europe providing strategic predictability & assurance for Allies
Read more https://t.co/nk9cewGEaG pic.twitter.com/9AE3UFKDae
— NATO Air Command (@NATO_AIRCOM) July 22, 2024
During their deployment, the B-52s will operate from the Romanian air base near the Black Sea coast. The strategic bombers will participate in various exercises with NATO Allies and other international partners to synchronize capabilities and strengthen security commitments across the U.S. European Command area of responsibility.
“This marks the first time U.S. strategic bomber aircraft have operated out of Romania,” noted General Hecker. “In today’s global environment, it is vital that we be postured to deliver a range of sustainable capabilities from great distances. This iteration of Bomber Task Force offers an excellent opportunity to refine our agile combat employment tactics, techniques, and procedures.”
The routine deployment of U.S. strategic bombers demonstrates the U.S. commitment to NATO and its Allies. These missions contribute to strategic predictability and assurance for Allies while introducing greater operational unpredictability for potential adversaries.
“Through collaborative efforts with our Allies, the U.S. enables our forces to combat current and future threats,” General Hecker added.