The goal of the B-52’s BTF missions is to be unpredictable, while allowing US bomber crews to conduct joint operations with US allies and partners.
There were numerous unconfirmed reports on social media on Thursday that at least two United States Boeing B-52 Stratofortress long-range strategic bombers were being deployed to Europe. The news comes only hours after Russian drones were shot down in Poland by Polish Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons, supported by Royal Netherlands Air Force F-35s, deployed to the region as part of a NATO air policing mission.
It is unclear if the two developments are linked. B-52s do not play any role in air defense, suggesting that the timing is coincidence only.
“Major Development: US B-52 bombers have been deployed and have already taken off for Europe. The key question remains—was this deployment a direct response to Russia’s strike near Poland?,” wrote Defense Intelligence on X (formerly Twitter).
The B-52 Stratofortress’ Specifications
- Year Introduced: 1955
- Number Built: 744 (76 service today)
- Length: 159 ft, 4 in
- Wingspan: 185 ft
- Weight: ~185,000 lb empty; 488,000 lb MTOW
- Engines: Eight Pratt & Whitney TF33-P-3/103 turbofans
- Top Speed: 650 mph (1,050 km/h)
- Range: 8,800 miles (14,200 km) without aerial refueling
- Service Ceiling: 50,000 ft (15,240 m)
- Loadout: Up to 70,000 pounds of mixed ordnance, including gravity bombs, mines, and missiles. (46 of the 76 B-52s in service are equipped for nuclear cruise missiles.)
- Aircrew: 5
The New Deployment Is Likely the Start of a Planned BTF Mission
If the deployment of the B-52s to Europe is confirmed, it is likely part of a planned Bomber Task Force (BTF) mission. The last BTF deployment involving the Stratofortress was in May, lasting only a week, during which a single long-range Cold War-era bomber was dispatched from Minot Air Force Base (AFB), North Dakota, to Morón Air Base (AB), Spain. The BTF 25-3 Europe mission was to “test and demonstrate Agile Combat Employment Concepts” from “smaller, more flexible locations” in Europe and Africa.
Before that, during BTF-25-2 Europe in February, four Boeing B-52s—also from Minot AFB—were deployed to Europe, spending nearly a month operating from Royal Air Force (RAF) Fairford, England. During that time, the bombers took part in 13 individual missions with US allies and partners in Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East, including in the TOWER CITADEL joint exercise with Royal Netherlands Air Force F-35 Lightning IIs, Royal Danish Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons, and Swedish JAS 39 Gripens in the Arctic region. One of the Stratofortress bombers also carried out a low-level flyover of the Norwegian capital of Oslo, escorted by Royal Norwegian Air Force F-35s.
The goal of the B-52’s BTF missions is to be unpredictable, while allowing US bomber crews to conduct joint operations with US allies and partners. Little warning is usually given as to when or how long the deployments will last, but there are often telltale signs that eagle-eyed observers can spot in advance.
The social media account “The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare” shared aircraft tracking data, writing on Tuesday evening, “USAF KC-46A Pegasus 22-46099 RCH618 and C-5M Super Galaxy 85-0008 RCH2004 both out from Barksdale together on route to Fairford.” The Pegasus and Super Galaxy could be supporting the pending arrival of the B-52 and aircraft at RAF Fairford, as has been the case in the past.
Still, there are reasons for skepticism. The local papers in England near the RAF base tend to report on the arrival of support aircraft, and as of Wednesday morning, there were no such reports. That could mean the planes were sent to a different base, or the reports of the B-52s going on another European tour have been inaccurate.
Even if the bombers are heading back to Europe for a BTF mission, it is likely to be just another semi-routine deployment—and probably has little to do with the Russian drones shot down on Wednesday morning.
About the Author: Peter Suciu
Peter Suciu has contributed over 3,200 published pieces to more than four dozen magazines and websites over a 30-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a contributing writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. He is based in Michigan. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: [email protected].
Image: Wikimedia Commons.
