The latest Bomber Task Force mission in Europe emphasized rapid deployment and agile operations from smaller bases, showcasing US airpower flexibility despite its unusually short, week-long duration.
The goal of the United States Air Force’s Bomber Task Force (BTF) missions is to be unpredictable; however, few aviation observers likely expected that BTF 25-3 would last just a week.
On May 20, a Boeing B-52H Stratofortress long-range strategic bomber from the 5th Bomb Wing, based at Minot Air Force Base (AFB), North Dakota, arrived at Morón Air Base (AB), Spain.
The BTF 25-3 mission was to “test and demonstrate Agile Combat Employment Concepts” from “smaller, more flexible locations” in Europe and Africa.
“Bomber Task Force Europe is a clear signal of peace through the strength of airpower,” said Lt. Gen. Jason T. Hinds, United States Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa deputy commander.
“This BTF deployment will ensure our forces remain resilient, dynamic, and capable of responding to evolving security challenges quickly and precisely.”
Speed certainly comes to mind, as it was announced on Tuesday that BTF 25-3 has been completed, and the B-52H Stratofortress has returned to Minot AFB.
“During this deployment, US Airmen operated from forward locations, demonstrating their ability to adapt, sustain operations, and project combat-credible airpower, regardless of environment or external factors,” the Air Force explained.
How Many Airmen Were in Spain?
The B-52H’s deployment came about a year after a Rockwell B-1B Lancer from the 9th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron at Dyess AFB, Texas, was deployed to Morón AB during the BTF 24-2 Europe mission. It marked the first time a Lancer operated from the Spanish military facility.
It is unclear how many airmen, including support personnel, were deployed to Spain for the week-long BTF deployment, but it was no vacation. Such missions require months of preparation, necessitating tailored support for the arriving unit.
Simultaneously, the deployments are designed to be far from routine, with no planned schedule announced in advance.
Since 2018, the US Air Force has carried out unscheduled deployments to provide “theater familiarization for aircrew and aircraft integration opportunities with Allies and partners across the globe.”
Before adopting BTF missions, the US Air Force “utilized the Continuous Bomber Presence construct in allied and partner nations,” Air Force Global Strike Command (AFSTRAT-Air) explained.
BTF missions have enabled the Department of Defense (DoD) to “demonstrate its ability to command and control bomber forces anywhere in the world while increasing its agility.”
The first BTF mission occurred in January 2018, when four Stratofortress bombers were deployed to Royal Air Force (RAF) Fairford in the United Kingdom. The B-52Hs have been a familiar sight in the skies over England, with two deployments, including BTF 24-3 last May and BTF 25-1 in November, operating from the RAF facility. That may explain why the most recent BTF mission was to Morón AB, with the shortened deployment.
Last year also saw US Force bombers operate from Royal Australian Air Force Base Amberley, Australia; Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base, Romania; Andersen AFB, Guam; Naval Support Facility Diego Garcia; and Luleå-Kallax Air Base, Sweden.
For 2025, American bombers have already been deployed to Andersen AFB, RAF Fairford, and Diego Garcia, while the US Air Force has just completed its first BTF mission to Misawa Air Base, Japan.
About the Author: Peter Suciu
Peter Suciu has contributed over 3,200 published pieces to more than four dozen magazines and websites over a thirty-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 Credit: Wikimedia Commons/Airman 1st Class Alexander Nottingham.
