[MilCom] OT: B-52 Stratofortresses to participate in NATO exercise

[Roger Strohmeyer]

B-52 Stratofortresses to participate in NATO exercise
U.S. Strategic Command Public Affairs
10/17/2014

*OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb.* – U.S. Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM)
assigned B-52 Stratofortress bombers will conduct two long-range flights to
the U.S. European Command area of operations this month, where they will
participate in NATO Exercise NOBLE JUSTIFICATION.

These bomber flights, which support the Maritime component of Exercise
NOBLE JUSTIFICATION, are specifically designed to provide opportunities to
synchronize bomber capabilities with NATO allies and partners while
demonstrating the U.S.’s commitment to enhancing regional security.

According to Adm. Cecil D. Haney, U.S. Strategic Command commander, the
B-52 flights will demonstrate the U.S. capability to provide a flexible and
always-ready force to respond to a variety of threats and situations, while
supporting U.S. efforts to build and foster partnerships with NATO allies.

“The participation of U.S. bombers in Exercise NOBLE JUSTIFICATION, which
was specifically requested by NATO leadership, provides truly unique
opportunities for our bomber crews to strengthen and improve
interoperability with our Allies and partners while working toward mutual
goals,” said Haney. “It is important that we continue to train our
strategic bomber force in a variety of joint environments, to ensure we
remain proficient in key skill sets and ready to respond to a variety of
potential threats, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.”

Exercise NOBLE JUSTIFICATION involves more than 13,000 multinational troops
and takes place across Europe and the Mediterranean Sea.  The purpose of
the exercise is to validate the readiness of forces to rapidly respond to
any NATO contingency, while highlighting the interoperability of NATO
forces and the commitment of NATO nations.  Within their participation of
the maritime component of the exercise, B-52s will practice the command,
control and employment of simulated conventional weapons operations,
supporting the exercise’s focus of validating the Spanish Maritime Forces
as the 2015 Maritime NATO Response Force.

The B-52 flights in support of Exercise NOBLE JUSTIFICATION follow the June
deployment of three B-52s and two B-2 Spirits to Royal Air Force (RAF)
Fairford, England, where the bombers trained and integrated with U.S. and
allied military forces in the region.

USSTRATCOM forces routinely conduct training missions worldwide in support
of geographic combatant commands to ensure the U.S. has a credible and
flexible capability to respond to a variety of potential threats. Bomber
operations enhance this capability by providing the President a variety of
options he may need to protect the nation or its allies and partners.

The B-52 Stratofortress is a long-range, multi-role bomber capable of
delivering both conventional and nuclear munitions. B-52s can fly at high
subsonic speeds at altitudes up to 50,000 feet.

http://www.stratcom.mil/news/2014/521/B-52_Stratofortresses_to_participate_in_NATO_exercise/