RAMSTEIN, Germany - Four United States Air Force B-52H Stratofortress bombers arrived at Royal Air Force Fairford, United Kingdom, on February 11, 2025 marking the start of Bomber Task Force (BTF) Europe 25-2.
While transiting into Europe, the U.S. bombers conducted a routine mission with Finland, France and Sweden; and throughout the month long deployment, the bombers will participate in a series of exercises and training flights alongside Allied air forces, building cohesion and sharpening collective capabilities.
Bomber Task Force missions reinforce our ability to rapidly project combat power
“Bomber Task Force missions reinforce our ability to rapidly project combat power, demonstrating U.S. lethality and readiness in a dynamic security environment,” said Major General Joseph Campo, U.S. Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa Director of Operations, Strategic Deterrence and Nuclear Integration. “Training alongside our Allies and partners ensures seamless integration, enhancing our collective deterrence and warfighting capability across Europe and Africa” he added.
The bombers will continue to integrate with NATO Allies, conducting joint training missions to enhance interoperability and readiness. Photo courtesy of the Finnish Air Force
Four United States Air Force B-52H Stratofortress bombers arrived at Royal Air Force Fairford, United Kingdom for BFT 25-2. Photo courtesy of the U.S. Air Force
While transiting to the Europe theatre, the U.S. bombers conducted a routine mission with Finland, France and Sweden. Photo courtesy of the Finnish Air Force
BTF 25-2 will demonstrate Agility in a dynamic security environment and global strike capabilities in support of assurance and deterrence. Photo courtesy of the Finnish Air Force
The bomber aircraft will continue to integrate with NATO Allies and partners, conducting joint training missions designed to enhance interoperability and readiness across the theatre. This integration highlights the importance of dynamic force employment, which ensures U.S. forces are strategically postured to deter aggression while adapting to the evolving security environment. The missions will also demonstrate the bombers’ ability to operate from multiple forward locations.
“Training with NATO allies strengthens our ability to operate as one team,” said Lieutenant. Colonel Joseph Cangealose, commander 69th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron. “These missions reinforce our partnerships and prepare us to deliver decisive capabilities whenever and wherever they’re needed.”
For European Allies, such deployments offer training and integration opportunities to refine and enhance common tactics, techniques and procedures. The missions enable crews to maintain a high state of readiness and validate the U.S. Air Force’s global strike capability in multi-domain operations.
The routine deployments of U.S. strategic bombers provide critical touch points to train and operate alongside Allies whilst bolstering a collective response to any global threat. BTF 25-2 will demonstrate Agility in a dynamic security environment and global strike capabilities in support of assurance and deterrence objectives also in a NATO context with one focus on the Baltic region.