Baltic BUFFs - Minot - Baltic - Minot

[SLXOwft]

"B-52 Task Forces Head to Eastern Europe, Alaska

The Air Force sent groups of B-52s to the Pacific and Europe as bomber task force deployments within two days this week, prompting Russia to intercept one.

On June 15, two B-52Hs from the 5th Bomb Wing at Minot Air Force Base, N.D., flew a long-distance strategic Bomber Task Force mission through Europe and the Baltics, where they participated in the NATO-led Baltic Operations exercise.

The bombers, supported by a KC-135 from the 100th Air Refueling Wing at RAF Mildenhall, England, integrated with United Kingdom Royal Air Force Typhoons and French Mirage 2000s that are conducting the NATO Baltic Air Policing mission. The Stratofortresses also flew over Tallinn, Estonia; Riga, Latvia; and Vaindloo Island, Estonia, according to a U.S. Air Forces in Europe release."

"The Russian Defense Ministry on June 15 published a video purportedly showing Su-27 fighter jets intercepting a B-52 in international airspace over the Baltic Sea. The video also shows the jets intercepting a German P-3 Orion and a United Kingdom Royal Air Force Sentinel."

Russian Video
Love the pilot jogging out to the aircraft at start - QRA VVS style! Screen grab below





Full article at: https://www.airforcemag.com/b-52-tas...europe-alaska/

Part of the 49th staging of BALTOPS. An example of the new Dynamic Force Employment Model.
An implication of the article is that they couldn't stage through Fairford because of current Covid-19 restrictions. (I may be misreading)

For the Dynamic Force Employment Model see:
https://www.airforcemag.com/air-forc...sence-in-guam/

"The transition to a “dynamic force employment” model allows the bombers to operate from a “broader array of overseas locations” with greater resilience, while keeping the aircraft permanently based in the U.S., AFGSC said."