A US B-52H bomber deployed to Spain as part of a strategic task force, showcasing agile operations across Europe and Africa while signaling US airpower strength and allied readiness.
A United States Air Force Boeing B-52H Stratofortress is back in Europe as part of a Bomber Task Force Europe deployment, but it is not operating from Royal Air Force (RAF) Fairford in the UK, where the most recent BTF missions have been carried out.
Instead, the long-range strategic bomber landed at Morón Air Base, Spain, on Tuesday.
According to the US Air Force, “The task force will test and demonstrate Agile Combat Employment concepts, operating from smaller, more flexible locations across Europe and Africa.”
During the previous BTF 2025-2 Europe, four B-52s assigned to the 5th Bomb Wing at Minot AFB, North Dakota, took part in thirteen individual missions carried out with US allies and partners in Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East, operating from the aforementioned RAF Fairford.
The aircraft arrived at the UK base on February 11, 2025, and spent roughly six weeks deployed to Europe.
Why Is the B-52H in Spain?
The service didn’t identify whether the Stratofortress deployed to Morón Air Base came from Minot AFB or the 2nd Bomb Wing at Barksdale AFB, Louisiana. It is also unclear if more than one B-52 will be operating from Spain, and the Air Force did not announce how many other personnel have been sent to Spain to support the BTF 25-3 Europe mission.
As previously reported, RAF Fairford has been noted for being “specifically designed to handle bomber operations,” and the base could likely see another BTF deployment, or even two, this year.
However, the US Air Force BTF missions are meant to be far from routine and less predictable, while the deployments are generally not announced in advance. The service has carried out unscheduled deployments since 2018 to provide “theater familiarization for aircrew and aircraft integration opportunities with Allies and partners across the globe.”
In other words, the B-52s will likely remain familiar in Europe while operating from different bases.
“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.”
The other question is whether the B-52 Stratofortress operating from Spain will participate in the flyover of Riga, Latvia. It had been scheduled for May 16 but was “postponed due to severe weather,” the service announced last week. An update “will be provided when the flyover is rescheduled.”
USAFE-AFAFRICA had previously announced a “Photo Contest” and called for those in the Latvian capital city to take pictures of the B-52 and allied aircraft as they fly over the Monument of Freedom, which honors the soldiers killed in the Latvian War of Independence, and post it to the service’s Instagram and Facebook pages. The winning photo would be spotlighted on the USAFE–AFAFRICA social media feeds.
In the meantime, those near Seville, Spain, should keep their smartphones and cameras ready to catch the B-52 in action.
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: Shutterstock/Christopher Chambers.
