The US Central Command (CENTCOM) has conducted a Bomber Task Force Mission in the Middle East to enhance its operational capabilities in the region.
CENTCOM deployed two B-52s from UK Royal Air Force Base Fairford during the operation.
During the mission, nine other partner nations participated in aerial refueling and live munitions drops.
Moreover, US F-15s and allied jets escorted the bombers during the mission.
“Bomber Task Force missions demonstrate US power projection capability, commitment to regional security, and ability to respond to any state or non-state actor seeking to broaden or escalate conflict in the CENTCOM region,” said CENTCOM Commander Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla.
Bomber Task Force
Bomber Task Force missions involve the regular deployment of bomber forces for “strengthening deterrence and promoting peace and stability by providing safe, secure, and lethal combat-ready forces for nuclear and conventional global strike.”
Operations involve three types of bomber aircraft: the B-52 Stratofortress, the B-1 Lancer, and the B-2 Spirit.
All three bombers can carry conventional weapons, while the B-52 Stratofortress and B-2 Spirit are also nuclear-capable.
CENTCOM
US CENTCOM’s area of responsibility covers over 4 million square miles (10.4 million square kilometers) and includes 21 countries from Northeast Africa through the Middle East to Central and South Asia.
With a population exceeding 560 million, the area intersects three continents and contains key sea lanes, flight paths, pipelines, and trade routes.
Forces deployed through CENTCOM are tasked with addressing regional conflicts, cyber threats, and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, all of which impact stability and security in the area.
