USAF B-52s takes part in S Korean exercises

With tensions high on the Korean Peninsula, a USAF B-52 Stratofortress conducted a training flight over the Republic of Korea, Mar. 19, 2013, where the aircraft practiced dropping bombs on targets at Pilsung Range as part of the U.S. Pacific Command's Continuous Bomber Presence (CBP) in the Pacific Command's (PACOM) Area of Operations. The CBP is an ongoing PACOM mission to bolster U.S. commitment to the security and stability of the Asia-Pacific region while allowing units to become familiar with operating in the theater from a deployed location. Andersen AFB in Guam has hosted the CBP since 2004 when Pacific Air Forces began to routinely deploy B-1, B-2, and B-52 aircraft to Guam on a rotational basis.

Unsurprisingly North Korea was less than pleased with the involvement of the B-52.

USAF B-52 and KC-135 to carry out training in Darwin

Moose 51 arrives into Darwin. Photo © William Nguyen Phuoc

The article says "will send", but my understanding is that a U.S. Air Force B-52H (callsign Moose 51 from the 5th Bomb Wing, MT/60-0055) and a KC-135 have arrived at Royal Australian Air Force Base Darwin today to take part in short term joint training with the RAAF. The B-52 is assigned to Andersen AFB as part of U.S. Pacific Command and U.S. Air Force rotational presence in the Pacific, and the KC-135 is part of the Tanker Task Force in the region.

B-52s in Darwin are unusual, but not all that unusual. The last B-52 visit to RAAF Darwin was in 2010, when they took part in Exercise Hamel with the Australian Defence Force. The B-52s also conduct missions to use the Delamere range, usually round-trip missions from Guam without stopovers.

Indeed, a B-52 from the 69th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron was the sole USAF participant in 2012's Exercise Pitch Black held in Australia's Northern Territory, staging from Guam and being escorted by "Taiwanese" (NOTE: Most likely Singaporean as Taiwan does not participate in Pitch Black) and Indonesian fighters (presumably Singaporean F-15SGs and Indonesian Su-27/30s as part of Blue Force) on it's way to and from target. I'll need to look deeper into this, but I'm pretty sure this marks the first time a B-52 has been escorted by Flankers on a mission, albeit on an exercise.

What caught my eye was this bit from the first link: "...decisions on future rotations are still under discussion. One of the goals of this visit is to discuss details required for support to future rotational deployments to both RAAF Darwin and RAAF Tindal."

Various sources have indicated that in the near future, rotations of USAF and US Marine Corps air assets to Northern Australia may become semi-permanent or even permanent as part of the "pivot to the Pacific". This current deployment to Darwin may only be the start of many more to come.

Thanks to William Nguyen Phuoc for additional information

USAF B-52s make debut at USAF-ROKAF exercise

In a first, two B-52 Bombers flew in air-to-air combat missions during exercise Max Thunder 12-1 with other USAF and Republic of Korea AF aircraft. This is the first time B-52's flew in Max Thunder, which has traditionally been a fighter aircraft exercise. The decision to integrate the B-52s, from Anderson Air Force Base in Guam, into this exercise was decided just hours before their executed mission. The combined joint two-week exercise allows the USAF to work alongside the ROKAF through exercise scenarios simulating combined operations against a hostile force.

Looks like the USAF, particularly it's Pacific Rim-based units, are working harder, and training for a very different mission from that we've been seeing in the past decade. And about time, too.

Barksdale B-52s perform large force departure

Seven B-52 bombers from the 2nd Bomb Wing based at Louisiana's Barksdale Air Force Base have carried out a large force departure exercise, departing the base at intervals of no less than 30 seconds. Each airplane then proceeded on an assigned training mission and returned to base on completion.

B-52s participate in Australia's Exercise Hamel

Guam-based US Air Force B-52s of the 23rd Expeditionary Bomb Squadron flew to Australia to participate in Exercise Hamel with the Australian Defence Force. The B-52s flew 12 sorties during the exercise conducting close-air-support training, teaming up with Australian joint terminal air controllers.

PHOTO: B-52 refuels at RIMPAC

(Click on thumbnail to view high res image)
100710-F-5964B-368 PACIFIC OCEAN (July 10, 2010) A KC-135 stratotanker assigned to the 465th Air Refueling Squadron refuels a B-52 stratofortress assigned to the Buccaneers of 20th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron during a sortie supporting Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2010. RIMPAC is a biennial, multinational exercise designed to strengthen regional partnerships and improve multinational interoperability. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Jacob N. Bailey/Released)