Two B-52 Stratofortress bombers, deployed on BTF 25-2 to RAF Fairford, UK, performed a 24-hour flight through Europe and the Middle East, joining with allied aircraft along the way.
A total of four B-52H Stratofortress strategic bombers are now detached on the Bomber Task Force (BTF) 25-2 deployment to RAF Fairford, which we reported on several days ago.
The first sortie flown by this detachment saw two of the bombers depart Fairford in the very early hours of Feb. 17, 2025, on a mammoth flight that did not see them return until almost exactly 24 hours later. Joining initially with four KC-135 Stratotanker refueling aircraft from RAF Mildenhall, the bombers routed south towards France and the Mediterranean before making a turn eastwards towards the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) area of responsibility.
A pair of B-52H Stratofortresses are active southbound over France out of the UK alongside 4 KC-135 Stratontankers for Bomber Task Force 25-2.
B-52H AE587C as 0000000
B-52H AE5889 as 0000000
KC-135 AE05B1 as 63-8878
KC-135 AE0502 as 59-1511
KC-135 AE04FB as 57-2605
KC-135 AE04C4… pic.twitter.com/4tUJqhx1Mp
— TheIntelFrog (@TheIntelFrog) February 17, 2025
Reports surfaced that, due to an apparent lack of prior notification, Egyptian air traffic control (ATC) would not accept the B-52s into their airspace. Though these have been seized upon for sensationalist reporting, airspace issues on these types of military flights are somewhat common.
The reports emanated from aviation enthusiasts who monitor the U.S. Air Force’s High Frequency Global Communications System (HFGCS), where an unencrypted discussion (archived by EAM Watch) between the lead B-52, GRIM 11, and a control station using the callsign WOLFHOUND ensued. Eventually, Egyptian ATC allowed the flight to proceed to the waypoint IMRAD, which is located over the Red Sea.
B-52 x2 GRIM11 AND GRIM12 now heading over Iraq. Earlier briefly denied entry over Egyptian airspace but allowed to proceed according to audio captured on 11175KHz https://t.co/lH6KwICJF7 pic.twitter.com/CFBaYwZ39W
— Zaes (@ZaesADSB) February 17, 2025
When GRIM flight made it to CENTCOM, they joined with Iraqi Air Force F-16IQ Vipers over Iraq and participated in a photo opportunity with them alongside U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles deployed to CENTCOM. In total, four partner nations provided fighter support at various stages of the sortie, but the rest of the nations involved remain unspecified.
At multiple ranges in undisclosed countries during the 24-hour sortie, the B-52s conducted live weapon drops, apparently coordinated on the ground by U.S. personnel at least some of the sites. This, too, is not an uncommon feature of BTF exercise missions. It was not revealed which type of weapons were used, though it was likely a form of guided Mark 80 series bomb carried in the internal payload bay. As we reported in the first article on the BTF 25-2 deployment, RAF Fairford’s exercises are kept well supplied by nearby RAF Welford, a U.S-operated munitions stockpile.
The B-52 is capable of carrying an extremely wide and varied assortment of munitions, including all types of the ubiquitous Mark 80 bomb series along with their associated Paveway or Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) guidance packages. AGM-158 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile can be carried internally or externally. For maritime focused operations, the aircraft are able to deliver Mark 80 series bomb-derived Quickstrike mines. In the nuclear role, the B-52’s primary weapon would be AGM-86B air launched cruise missiles released from a stand-off range outside of hostile air defense range.
Force projection exercises, also often referred to in the U.S. Air Force context as global power missions, affirm the Air Force Global Strike Command’s (AFGSC) ability to rapidly deploy a conventional or nuclear strike capability anywhere on the globe. Along with the main strike package, comprising a flight of strategic bombers, the missions are supported by a large force of refueling aircraft positioned along the planned route. Fighter aircraft, which during a time of war would perform defensive counter air (DCA) and offensive counter air (OCA) missions to protect the strike package, link up with the flight at set points during the mission.
“Bomber Task Force missions demonstrate U.S. power projection capability, commitment to regional security, and ability to respond to any state or non-state actor seeking to broaden or escalate conflict in the CENTCOM region” affirmed General Michael ‘Erik’ Kurilla, who currently commands CENTCOM.
GRIM flight’s brief trip into the CENTCOM area of responsibility is the first time B-52s have operated in the area since six of the aircraft were temporarily detached to Qatar in November 2024. After flying live missions against ISIS targets in Syria in December, amidst the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime, the aircraft returned to the United States later the same month.
Top Brass
Demonstrating the value contributed to the U.S. Air Force’s strategic capability offered by BTF exercises, as well as RAF Fairford itself, the personnel deployed on BTF 25-2 received a personal visit by Commander of the U.S. Strategic Command (STRATCOM) General Anthony J. Cotton on Feb. 17.
Cotton arrived on a U.S. Air Force C-37A, the military designation for the Gulfstream V business jet. A varied fleet of executive transports are operated by the U.S. military for the transport of political and military officials across the globe. Some C-37As are painted in a high visibility blue and white scheme modeled on that used by the famous VC-25As and C-32As of the 89th Airlift Wing, while others are maintained in a more inconspicuous civilian-like livery which allows the aircraft to blend in at airports for low profile visits.
Speaking to deployed crews as well as those based more locally at RAF Fairford and RAF Alconbury, a support base, Cotton was said to have recognized several personnel and received updates on the deployment. No doubt he was kept up to date on the 24-hour mission that was unfolding throughout his visit.
