On their way to Romania, the two strategic bombers were intercepted by Russian MiG-31 and MiG-29 aircraft.
On Jul. 21, 2024, two B-52H Stratofortress aircraft from the U.S. Air Force’s 2nd Bomb Wing, stationed at Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana, landed at Mihail Kogalniceanu Airbase in Romania as part of Bomber Task Force 24-4.
The deployment was somehow spoiled by the presence of several KC-135 tankers from the 100th ARW (Air Refueling Wing) out of RAF Mildenhall, tracking online as they supported the BUFFs (Big Ugly Fat Fellow – as the B-52 is nicknamed among the pilots community) on their way to Romania.
Three USAF tankers returning from mission over Finland. Rumored to refuel B-52s from Barksdale. Report from Russian MOD that it detected two B-52 bombers over the Barents Sea.
If so, first B-52 mission over Finland? No confirmation yet.
h/t @SirListenalot @johnspectator pic.twitter.com/eIL20DCroZ
— Hans Kristensen (@nukestrat) July 21, 2024
In fact, the B-52s were escorted by Finnish Air Force F/A-18C Hornets and German Air Force Eurofighters over the Gulf of Finland.
.@FinnishAirForce flew a training mission with two 🇺🇸 B-52 bombers today.
🇫🇮 F/A-18 Hornet multirole fighters flew with the 🇺🇸bombers from Lapland to Gulf of Finland where the bombers continued their mission with 🇩🇪 Eurofighters involved in Nato’s BAP mission. #StrongerTogether pic.twitter.com/uIvAKYTHZn— Puolustusvoimat (@Puolustusvoimat) July 21, 2024
During their flight over the Barents Sea, the B-52s, operating in international airspace in compliance with international law, were intercepted by two Russian aircraft around 8 a.m. Central European Time. Despite the interception, the B-52s maintained their flight path and continued their mission as planned, including integration exercises with NATO fighter jets, before landing at Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base.
This is a translation of the statement released by the Russian MOD:
To identify an air target and prevent violation of the State Border of the Russian Federation, MiG-29 and MiG-31 fighters from the air defense forces on duty were scrambled into the air.
Russian fighter crews identified the aerial target as a pair of US Air Force B-52H strategic bombers.
As Russian fighters approached, American strategic bombers made a turn from the State Border of the Russian Federation.
Russian aircraft returned safely to their home airfields, and no violations of the State Border of the Russian Federation were allowed.
The flight of Russian fighters was carried out in strict accordance with international rules for the use of airspace over neutral waters and in compliance with safety measures.
As per standard BTF deployments, while in Europe, the strategic aircraft will operate as an Expeditionary Bomb Squadron (the 20th EBS in this case) engaging in joint operations with NATO Allies and other international partners to enhance capabilities and reinforce security commitments within the U.S. European Command’s jurisdiction.
This deployment marks the first instance of U.S. strategic bombers operating from Romanian territory.
General James Hecker, commander of USAFE-AFAFRICA, emphasized the importance of being positioned to deliver a range of capabilities globally. He stated that Bomber Task Force missions provide valuable opportunities to improve agile combat employment tactics, techniques, and procedures. Hecker highlighted that these collaborative efforts with Allies enable U.S. forces to address current and future threats effectively.
According to the U.S. Air Force, regular deployments of U.S. strategic bombers underscore the U.S. commitment to NATO Allies and partners. These missions enhance dynamic force employment in the European theater, providing strategic assurance to Allies while deterring potential adversaries with operational unpredictability.
Hecker further noted the U.S. dedication to working with NATO Allies and partners along the Eastern Flank to ensure combined skills and coordination necessary for regional safety, security, and stability. Regular strategic bomber deployments demonstrate the readiness and integration capabilities of the U.S. and NATO to deter threats and defend the Alliance.
The previous deployment, Bomber Task Force 24-3, saw four B-52H Stratofortress bombers assigned to the 69th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron from Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, operate from RAF Fairford, UK, from May 20 to June 18 – 20 (the four aircraft returned home in pairs, two days apart).
David Cenciotti is a journalist based in Rome, Italy. He is the Founder and Editor of “The Aviationist”, one of the world’s most famous and read military aviation blogs. Since 1996, he has written for major worldwide magazines, including Air Forces Monthly, Combat Aircraft, and many others, covering aviation, defense, war, industry, intelligence, crime and cyberwar. He has reported from the U.S., Europe, Australia and Syria, and flown several combat planes with different air forces. He is a former 2nd Lt. of the Italian Air Force, a private pilot and a graduate in Computer Engineering. He has written five books and contributed to many more ones.
