|
2025-04-20 China-Japan-Koreas
|
|
B-1B Bones Make Unprecedented Bomber Task Force Deployment To Japan
|
[TWZ] For the first time, U.S. Air Force B-1B bombers are in Japan for a Bomber Task Force rotation. The deployment to Misawa Air Base comes at a time when the Air Force has six B-2 stealth bombers stationed in Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, for a significant bomber presence across the Indo-Pacific region. You can read more about the B-2 rotation in this previous story.
The B-1Bs, from the 9th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron, deployed from Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, arriving at Misawa on April 15, immediately after flying a training mission alongside fighters from the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF). The ‘Bones’ flew over the western part of the Korean peninsula, including Osan Air Base, accompanied by U.S. Air Force F-16s and ROKAF F-35s and F-16s. Initially, two B-1s arrived at Misawa, but more examples may soon join them.
Air Force bombers in Japan are not an entirely new phenomenon, although they have never previously been there as part of a Bomber Task Force deployment.
In February of this year, B-1s taking part in a Bomber Task Force deployment to Guam landed at Misawa for ‘hot-pit’ refueling. The method of ‘hot pitting’ involves keeping the engines running while the aircraft is refueled by ground crews. Sometimes the crews are also switched out. The tactic is useful for increasing sortie rates as well as rapidly refueling, rearming and swapping out a new crew in combat aircraft to get them back in the fight faster. Shutting aircraft down also invites the possibilities of critical equipment failures upon startup. So, for especially complex aircraft, keeping them running and all systems operating allows for better assurance that the asset will stay in play.
As for the Bomber Task Force concept, the Air Force introduced this in 2018 to replace the previous continuous rotational deployments of bombers overseas. Involving typically only small numbers of aircraft, Bomber Task Force deployments are of varying lengths, extending from a few weeks up to several months in some cases. These deployments provide theater familiarization for aircrews and aircraft integration opportunities with Allies and partners in different parts of the world. Overall, they represent what the Air Force says is a more unpredictable and flexible approach to pushing strategic airpower forward.
Bomber Task Force deployments now take place in Europe and in the Indo-Pacific theater. In the latter region, these rotations have been made to Andersen Air Force Base, Guam; Royal Australian Air Force Base Amberley, Australia; and Naval Support Facility Diego Garcia, British Indian Ocean Territory. From these forward locations, missions have been flown over and around critical hot spots and in exercises with allies.
“BTF 25-2 showcases the U.S. commitment to deterring threats and maintaining regional stability,” explained Lt. Col. Christopher Travelstead, director of operations for the squadron now deployed at Misawa. “These missions in the Indo-Pacific ensure our B-1 crews are highly trained and ready to respond anytime, anywhere, to defend U.S. interests and support our allies, securing a stable Indo-Pacific — where all nations operate freely under a rules-based order while promoting global peace and prosperity.”
|
Posted by Skidmark 2025-04-20 05:08||
||
Front Page|| [10347 views ]
Top
File under: Commies
|
|
08:34 SteveS
08:27 Skidmark
08:26 Skidmark
08:16 Skidmark
08:12 Skidmark
08:04 Skidmark
07:39 Jack+Creanter7508
07:39 Gluson
07:37 Jack+Creanter7508
07:35 Jack+Creanter7508
07:06 Skidmark
05:59 Frank G
05:49 Super Hose
05:48 Frank G
05:45 Super Hose
05:43 Super Hose
05:43 Gloluns Turkeyneck4904
05:41 Super Hose
05:16 NN2N1
04:59 NN2N1
04:46 NN2N1
03:57 Whiskey Mike
03:36 RJ45ACP
03:30 RJ45ACP
|
