The US Air Force just made a huge show in the South China Sea with 3 nuclear-capable bombers

[BoQ77]

ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam --

History was made Aug. 17, 2016 when all three of Air Force Global Strike Command's strategic power projection bombers, the B-52 Stratofortress, B-1B Lancer and B-2 Spirit, simultaneously took to the sky during their first integrated bomber operation in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region.

Though all the aircraft have deployed independently to the U.S. Pacific Command’s area of responsibility in the past, this was the first time all three bombers flew a formation pass over Andersen Air Force Base, dispersed and then simultaneously conducted operations in the South China Sea and Northeast Asia.

“This mission demonstrated the U.S. commitment to supporting global security and our ability to launch a credible strategic defense force," said Brig. Gen. Douglas Cox, 36th Wing commander.

Missions such as this provide opportunities for bomber crews to integrate and train with allies and partners in a variety of missions, and are also designed to strengthen capabilities by familiarizing aircrew with Andersen’s geographic area of operations.

Several B-1s and more than 300 Airmen from Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota, arrived at Andersen AFB, in early August to replace the B-52s assigned to Minot AFB, North Dakota. Effective Aug. 15, the B-1s are temporarily located at Guam to carry out USPACOM’s Continuous Bomber Presence mission.

Capt. Kaitlin Tardieu and 1st Lt. Ruben Labrador, both 69th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron B-52 Stratofortress pilots deployed from Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, said after a successful mission, they will be heading home once the changeover is complete.

"We've been out here the past six months flying Pacific power projection sorties, so all over the Pacific area of responsibility doing assurance deterrence missions," said Tardieu.

"It's been an amazing experience, we’ve [been able] to use equipment we wouldn't usually use and integrate with our allies," added Labrador.

With a large weapon capacity and exceptional standoff strike capability, the B-1 provides USPACOM and its regional allies and partners with a credible, strategic power projection platform.

"The unique thing about our opportunities here as part of the continuous bomber presence is we really have the chance to train across all of the mission sets that the B-1 is capable of,” said Lt. Col. Seth Spanier, 34th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron commander deployed from Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota. “We will routinely, on a day-in and day-out basis, get to train with the land, air and naval forces of both the US and our allies and partners in the region. It's really an unmatched training opportunity for our squadron."

Additionally, as a demonstration to U.S. commitment to the region, three B-2s also arrived in theater from Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri, Aug. 9 to conduct local sorties and regional training and integrate with partner nations. During the deployment, members of the 509th Bomb Wing will hone skills in such key areas as command and control, air refueling and long-range navigation, while directly interacting with allied military forces.

“Training deployments such as these are meant to maintain crew readiness and provide unique training opportunities," said Lt. Col. Keith Butler, 13th Bomb Squadron director of operations. “It also gives us the chance to work with other bomber aircraft we have inside Air Force Global Strike Command as well as some of our regional allies and partners for national security and deterrence in this part of the world.

The CBP mission and global strategic bomber deployments are part of a long-standing history of maintaining a consistent bomber presence in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region in order to maintain stability and provide assurance to U.S. allies and partners in the region. USPACOM’s area of responsibility covers 52 percent of the globe, which makes strategic bombers an effective long-range global attack capability, assuring our allies while deterring potential adversaries.

AFGSC continues to routinely deploy bombers to Andersen, which provides opportunities for Airmen to advance and strengthen regional alliances and the long-standing military-to-military partnerships throughout the Indo-Asia-Pacific.

"By doing this, we showed the world we can expertly integrate three different platforms with unique capabilities, meeting Team Andersen's mission by providing the President of the United Sates sovereign options to decisively employ airpower across the entire spectrum of engagement -- thus achieving our Wing's motto, we are ‘Prepared to Prevail,’” Cox said.

 

[ashok321]

http://www.businessinsider.in/The-U...lear-capable-bombers/articleshow/53747671.cms

On Wednesday, the US Air Force made history by flying all three operational bombers, the B-52, the B-1, and the B-2 over Andersen Air Force Base in Guam, before conducting drills in the South China Sea and Northeast Asia.

The unique opportunity to fly these three long range bombers together came when the advanced B-1s and B-2s arrived in the theater to relieve the B-52s that were stationed there as part of operation Continuous Bomber Presence.

Essentially, it is the goal of US Strategic Command (STRATCOM) to constantly station nuclear-capable bombers in the Pacific in a visible effort to deter aggression in the region. But lately, the US has stepped up the presence, pulling out all three big bombers, while China has been acting increasingly aggressively towards their neighbors in the South China Sea.

China, for their part, has attempted to establish a "no sail zone," intruded into Japan's territorial waters, and flew bomber patrols of their own over the disputed islands and shoals since the Permanent Court of Arbitration at the Hague ruled against their claims to the South China Sea. Now it would seem the US is answering.

"This mission demonstrated the US commitment to supporting global security and our ability to launch a credible strategic defense force," Brig. Gen. Douglas Cox, the 36th Wing commander said of the exercises in anAir Force statement.

Flying all three bombers and training with allies provides the US and partners with the realistic training they need to provide credible deterrence.

"It's been an amazing experience," said Capt. Kaitlin Tardieu and 1st Lt. Ruben Labrador. "We've (been able) to use equipment we wouldn't usually use and integrate with our allies."

 

[BoQ77]

I oppose the militarization of SCS.

 

[Kyle Sun]

Well yes, that's the thing these Vietnamese have long forgotten that the war their elders fought against the oppressor and won has now been lost by their opportunist children. Dollar has quite a power isn't it?

AS UK TV show said , money talks bullshit walks.

 

[T-Rex]

The US will regret if she uses them against China. I don't think they'll be able to fly back to their bases. The only option that might work is the F-22 but isn't that for air superiority? The US is about to make the same mistake as Nazi Germany did by underestimating the foe.

 

[IceCold]

The US will regret if she uses them against China. I don't think they'll be able to fly back to their bases. The only option that might work is the F-22 but isn't that for air superiority? The US is about to make the same mistake as Nazi Germany did by underestimating the foe.

What about the B-2? They will also prove to be a challenge. However the rest will go down even before they enter Chinese airspace that is for sure.

 

[BoQ77]

US wouldn't start a war with those 3 bombers only
Take it easy !!!

 

[BoQ77]

 

[TaiShang]

@waz : I believe this guy flame bait, and spam

He is just historically proving how effective B-52 can be.

You are constantly generating self-pride and solace over US achievements and policies in East Asia, so, the above video should be of no importance to you as you can only feel proud at the sight.

After all, these platforms will only be used against non-nuclear (defenseless) countries, and the country you derive your pride from has second strike capability, just as China does.

It cuts neither ours nor your butter, old boy.

 

[gambit]

The US will regret if she uses them against China. I don't think they'll be able to fly back to their bases. The only option that might work is the F-22 but isn't that for air superiority? The US is about to make the same mistake as Nazi Germany did by underestimating the foe.

Actually...It is the other way around. We want to give China a hint of what WILL come her way if China chose the military path regarding the SCS. We hope that this wee little sign will give China's cooler heads a reminder of what happened when she underestimated US back in Desert Storm.

What about the B-2? They will also prove to be a challenge. However the rest will go down even before they enter Chinese airspace that is for sure.

Yeah...As if YOU speak from personal experience planning heavy bomber missions.

The B-52 does not need to enter Chinese airspace to attack China.

http://www.popsci.com/new-missile-for-old-bombers

The 2,000-pound JASSM uses infrared and a jam-resistant GPS receiver to find its way to targets. Half of the missile is a 1,000-pound payload, designed to penetrate fortified targets, and the JASSM cruises to its targets with its own jet engine. The original missile could travel about 200 miles, but the extended-range version (JASSM-ER) can hit targets at least 500 miles away.

The B-1 is the F-111's bigger brother and the Soviets were always nervous about the F-111. The B-1 can fly lower than mountain tops at high subsonic, rendering most air defense radars helpless.

As for the B-2, the Chinese air defense crews will just have to wonder.

No one have any credible defense against these three.

 

[Lure]

This is a clear show of force. They simply say we can take off from Guam and hit targets in SCS with nukes and deny the entire region for Chinese ships.

 

[Kiss_of_the_Dragon]

Actually...It is the other way around. We want to give China a hint of what WILL come her way if China chose the military path regarding the SCS. We hope that this wee little sign will give China's cooler heads a reminder of what happened when she underestimated US back in Desert Storm.
.

China was undeterred with two aircraft battle groups dispatched into SCS, we will be scare of these bombers? indeed US just give a hint of what China should to place in SCS to counter this threat, more likely China will declare ADIZ to counter these bomber threat, . As a Vietnamese, please don't use the word "We hope", you don't represent American even if you live, that is not real American's hope but your Vietnamese wet dream.

 

[Lure]

China was undeterred with two aircraft battle groups dispatched into SCS, we will be scare of these bombers? indeed US just give a hint of what China should to place in SCS to counter this threat, more likely China will declare ADIZ to counter these bomber threat, . As a Vietnamese, please don't use the word "We hope", you don't represent American even if you live, that is not real American's hope but your Vietnamese wet dream.

Guam is a national security threat for China. Clearly US is levereging on Guam for any Pacific Operation. In a potential conflict China should be able to take down Guam without losing much time. Does China have any countermeasures against Guam to efficiently deny entire base from operation?

 

[Great Janjua]

Operation desert storm the most useless operation you had around 10 countries fighting for the USA and still struggled to beat the Iraqi regime

 

[Shotgunner51]

They simply say we can take off from Guam and hit targets in SCS with nukes

They thought the ability of hitting targets with nukes is a national patent? If not, it that even news to anyone?

This is a clear show of force.

Perhaps more like a good show of "your tax monies are well spent, your share of public debts is justifiable" to home audience? Show producers are ... by the way who sell those jets?