The United States Air Force has seen a significant number of its Boeing B-52H Stratofortress long-range bombers deployed far from their home bases for more than a month, but it was announced that some of those aircraft have returned to the United States in time for the holidays. The remaining aircraft will be returning home in the coming weeks.
Ten of the air service’s 76 operational bombers – accounting for nearly 15% of its fleet – had operated across Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.
No European Holiday for the BUFFs
Instead of spending the holidays and ringing in the New Year in the UK, the B-52s from Barksdale Air Force Base (AFB), Louisiana, are back stateside.
“Four U.S. Air Force B-52H Stratofortress aircraft departed Royal Air Force Fairford, England, Dec. 13 following a successful Bomber Task Force deployment,” U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa announced, adding, “During their time in Europe, this recent deployed B-52 unit conducted a series of training missions with other U.S. Air Force assets in the region and multiple countries, including Finland, Sweden, Lithuania, Italy, Norway, the U.K., the Czech Republic, and Morocco.”
While deployed to RAF Fairford, the bombers also conducted the first-ever simulated live weapons drop in Finland, highlighting enhanced interoperability with its NATO partner. In addition, the B-52 crews integrated with Lithuanian Joint Terminal Attack Controllers, which served to strengthen close-air support readiness across the Baltic region.
“Working alongside our Allies and partners highlights the strength of collaboration. Every mission was a testament to the power of teamwork, shared expertise, and a unified commitment to security,” said Capt. Aaron Gurley, USAFE-AFAFRICA Bomber Task Force (BTF) mission planner. “Together, we built solutions that no single nation could achieve alone, proving that our collective strength truly defines the success of every operation.”
From the Middle East to the Midwest
Six additional B-52s from Minot AFB, N.D., were deployed to the Middle East after the United States Navy’s Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) departed from the region last month after having been rushed to bolster U.S. Navy capabilities in August.
As another U.S. Navy nuclear-powered carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) has arrived in the region, the B-52s – which are operating from undisclosed bases in the Middle East – will return home in the coming weeks, Air & Space Forces magazine first reported.
The B-52s will be joined by one of the two squadrons of U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles, as CVN-75’s Carrier Air Wing 1 included multiple squadrons of the F/A-18E/F Super Hornets. The Department of Defense (DoD) increased the presence of U.S. airpower in the region when CVN-72 headed to the Indo-Pacific.
When the B-52s and F-15Es will make their long flights home isn’t known, while Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Maj. Gen. Patrick S. Ryder declined to comment further on what other squadrons could be rotated out of the Middle East.
“We won’t announce departure activity or deployment activity in advance for multiple reasons,” Ryder explained.
The U.S. Air Force has also deployed A-10 Thunderbolt II and F-16 Fighting Falcons to the Middle East to bolster the U.S. military presence and to deter Iran and regional proxies. A B-52 also participated in the recent Bahrain International Airshow.
Combat Operations
While the Stratofortress bombers deployed to Europe took part in joint exercises, according to Air & Space Forces magazine, at least one of the six B-52s engaged ISIS targets after the collapse of the regime of Syrian President Bashar Al Assad.
The bombers flew alongside F-15E fighters and A-10 close air support (CAS) aircraft and carried out around a dozen airstrikes on Islamic State leaders, fighters, and camps in Syria.
“CENTCOM, together with allies and partners in the region, will continue to carry out operations to degrade ISIS operational capabilities even during this dynamic period in Syria,” U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced earlier this month.
B-52s Being Stretched Thin
Though 744 were built, with the final aircraft being delivered in October 1962, there are currently 76 in the United States Air Force’s inventory.
Of those, 58 are active with the 2nd Bomb Wing and 5th Bomb Wing, while 18 more are in reserve with the 307th Bomb Wing. Another dozen are in long-term storage at the Davis-Monthan AFB “Boneyard.”
The 10 deployed represented 13.2% of the fleet.
As Air & Space Forces magazine further noted, many of those bombers are constantly cycled through depot maintenance, while several are now dedicated to testing weapons and upgrades. The B-52 maintained a mission-capable rate of 54% in 2023.
Efforts are underway to keep the remaining bombers flying through 2050 or later – and the bombers are currently receiving new Rolls-Royce engines, resulting in the updated aircraft receiving the designation B-52J.
