Here Are The Shots Of The U.S. B-52s Flying First Deterrence Mission As Part Of Bomber Task Force Based in Qatar

May 13, 2019 Iraq, Syria, Troubled Areas
David Cenciotti
A U.S. B-52H Stratofortress aircraft assigned to the 20th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron refuels from a KC-135 Stratotanker assigned to the 28th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron, at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia, May 12, 2019. The B-52H offers diverse capabilities including the delivery of precision weapons in support of the U.S. Air Forces Central Command mission to provide security and stability in the region. The bomber is part of a bomber task force deployed to U.S. Central Command area of responsibility to defend American forces and interests in the region. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Keifer Bowes)

B-52s as well as F-15Cs and F-35As have conducted “deterrence missions” in the CENTCOM AOR recently.

As already reported, four B-52 bombers deployed from Barksdale AFB, Lousiana, to Al Udeid, Qatar, as part of a BTF (Bomber Task Force) created in response to “troubling and escalatory indications and warnings” related to Iran. The first two of four B-52 bombers, radio callsign “MYTEE 51-52” landed in Qatar on May 8; the second “wave” (MYTEE 53-54) followed on the same route on May 9.

The bombers are part of a build up in the region aimed at deterring unspecified threats from Iran and regional proxies, that include the USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group and the U.S. Air Force F-15C Eagles from the 48th Fighter Wing deployed from RAF Lakenheath, UK. All these forces have joined the assets already in the region, including the six F-35A Lightning II, belonging to the active duty 388th and reserve 419th Fighter Wings at Hill Air Force Base, Utah and deployed since Apr. 15, 2019, to Al Dhafra, UAE,  that have carried out their first air strike on Apr. 30.

On May 12, both the F-15s and F-35s, as well as the 20th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron’s B-52 have carried out deterrence missions aimed “to defend American forces and interests in the region”: for the Stratofortress aircraft this was also the first mission of the Bomber Task Force deployed to U.S. Central Command area of responsibility.

The photographs released by AFCENT provide some details about the configuration of these assets for yesterday’s mission. The B-52 aircraft (at least, the one depicted in the images) externally carried only empty bomb racks and an AN/AAQ-33 Sniper ATP (Advanced Targeting Pod) under the right wing.

A B-52 on the ground at Al Udeid (U.S. Air Force photo by. Staff Sgt. Ashley L. Gardner)

The F-15s were armed with (6) AIM-120 AMRAAM and AIM-9X Sidewinder AAMs (Air-to-Air Missiles) and, most probably, since they carried it when they deployed but it’s not visible in the latest shots, a ventral Sniper ATP.

An Airman piloting an F-15 Strike Eagle prepares to receive fuel from a KC-135 Stratotanker from the 28th Expeditionary Aerial Refueling Squadron, May 12, 2019 at an undisclosed location. The 28th EARS maintains a 24/7 presence in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, supporting U.S. and Coalition aircraft in various operations in countries such as Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Keifer Bowes)

The F-35A aircraft were in the same (external) configuration shown in the photos of the their baptism of fire, including the external AIM-9X Sidewinder AAM (Air-to-Air Missile) – in this case just one – and the radar reflectors/RCS (Radar Cross Section) enhancers.

An F-35 Lightning II (not in “stealth mode” because of the external loads and radar reflectors) receives fuel from a KC-135 Stratotanker from the 28th Expeditionary Aerial Refueling Squadron, May 12, 2019 at an undisclosed location. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Keifer Bowes)

H/T to @ryankakiuchan for the heads-up.



About David Cenciotti
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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.

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