4 US Air Force B-52H bombers relocated to Guam▶ Click here to enlarge
Four US Air Force B-52H long-range bombers were relocated to Guam in the Pacific Ocean.
According to the US Pacific Air Force Command on the 31st, four B-52H bombers returned to the Indo-Pacific region on the 28th to serve as the Bomber Task Force (BTF) at Anderson Air Force Base in Guam.
Previously, aircraft tracking site’Aircraft Spots’ reported that two B-52Hs at Boxdale Air Force Base in Louisiana, USA, were deployed at Anderson Air Force Base in Guam on the 25th.
Four B-52Hs were deployed as part of the 96th Bomb Squadron at Boxdale Air Force Base to support alliance and combined exercises, and this strategic deterrence mission will strengthen a rule-based international order in the Indo-Pacific region, the U.S. Air Force said.
“The deployment of the bombing mission unit allows us to use our combat power with agility wherever needed,” said Christopher Duff’s 96th Bomb Squadron Battalion Commander. “In addition, it provides opportunities for practical combined operations and training with allies and partners. It will allow you to maintain your proficiency and readiness.”
Earlier, in April of last year, the US Air Force withdrew five B-52Hs from Anderson Air Force Base in Guam to the US mainland and deployed B-1B instead.
At the time, military experts analyzed that the US military would have withdrawn the B-52H to the mainland in order to secure the budget needed to operate more offshore power in order to contain Chinese naval power in the Indo-Pacific region.
The B-52H is equipped with AGM-129 cruise missiles (12) and AGM-86A cruise missiles (20) capable of loading nuclear warheads.
AGM-84 Harpoon air-to-ship missiles with conventional warheads (8), AGM-142 Raptor surface-to-ground missiles (4), JDAM (12), 500 pounds (226.7 kg) and 81 conventional bombs weighing 1,000 pounds, It can carry 32 tons of weapons, including 12 GPS-type inertial induction bombs (JSOW).
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