Category: US Strategic Command

Source: United States Strategic Command

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. (AFNS)  –  

Department of the Air Force leaders and industry partners provided updates on the B-21 Raider, the Air Force’s newest bomber, during a panel at the Air and Space Force Association’s Air, Space and Cyber Conference, Sept. 18.

The B-21 will incrementally replace the B-1 Lancer and B-2 Spirit bombers to become the backbone of the Air Force’s flexible global strike capability. The airframe is a long-range, highly survivable stealth bomber capable of delivering a mix of conventional and nuclear munitions and will be the “air leg” of the nuclear triad, critical to deterring conflict.

Panelists who provided updates included Gen. Thomas Bussiere, Air Force Global Strike Command commander; Maj. Gen. Jason Armagost, Eighth Air Force and Joint-Global Strike Operations Center commander; William Bailey, Department of the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office director; and Thomas Jones, Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems sector president.

Bailey and Jones provided updates about how the B-21 program is progressing.

“We’re really starting to strike up quite a cadence [and] generate two flight test flights in a given week,” Jones said. “When we started this journey, we made a vow that we were going to design this system to be a daily flyer. It’s been a phenomenal year of progress, and we hope to continue that through the next year.”

The panelists also described a significant milestone in which the B-21 completed its static test on the G-1 asset, a ground-based test article used to evaluate the structural integrity of the aircraft. This test was essential to “confirming the structural design of the aircraft is sound and validated confidence in the digital models,” Bailey said.

The aircraft is now going through a fatigue testing campaign.

Armagost discussed how the B-21 program is preparing for the delivery of the aircraft to Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota, to include laying the foundation for AFGSC squadrons to be sufficiently equipped, trained, and certified for aircraft delivery, while Bailey spoke to the teamwork that has been essential to the program’s development.

“We’re very clear as a team what the priorities are day after day,” Bailey said. “That collaboration between operators and acquirers has been a key component of this success … that has got to be a consideration [in Great Power Competition].”

Bussiere addressed current strategic threats posed by adversaries and the necessity of the bomber force, and the future capabilities the B-21 will provide, to keep pace with those threats.

“We are the free world’s only bomber force. We’re probably not going to see a decreased demand signal from our regional combatant commands on bomber task forces,” Bussiere added. “That demand signal, in my opinion, is only going to go up in the years ahead. As we transition from legacy to new, the B-21 fleet will provide great comfort to our allies and should provide great pause to any potential adversary.”

He added, “Nobody on the planet can do what we’re doing right now. Nobody on the planet can build an exquisite, technologically-advanced platform like the B-21, and quite frankly, nobody on the planet can hold at risk what we can hold at risk at a time and place of our choosing.”

Bailey echoed Bussiere’s comments about the adaptability of the B-21 systems, which were “designed with flexibility in mind.”

“Agility and flexibility — they can’t just be buzzwords. These are the kind of things that you need to be able to demonstrate over time. Why? Because it’s going to be changing on you, and we’ve had the benefit of employing a lot of those strategies on this program,” Bailey concluded.

The B-21 program has a production goal of a minimum of 100 aircraft.

When the B-21 enters the service, Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota, will be the first B-21 main operating base and location of the formal training unit. The Air Force recently announced the second and third basing locations for the B-21: Whiteman AFB, Missouri; and Dyess AFB, Texas, in that order.

Source: United States Strategic Command

BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La.   –  

Airmen and Sailors from the 625^th Strategic Operations Squadron, Offutt AFB, Neb., 576^th Flight Test Squadron, Vandenberg Space Force Base, Calif., the 91^st Missile Wing, Minot AFB, N.D., and the Navy’s Strategic Communications Wing 1, Offutt AFB, completed a simulated electronic launch minuteman (SELM) test at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., Sept. 17.

Twice a year, SELM tests the Minuteman III in its deployed environment at various missile wings without an actual launch occurring.

“SELM tests the selected ICBMs from day-to-day operation to issuance of the first stage ignition signal,” said Maj. Raun Carnley, assistant director of operations, 625th STOS. “Commands up to and including launch commands are sent to the test configured launch facility from test configured launch control centers and the Airborne Launch Control System (ALCS) onboard a Navy E-6 Mercury.”

SELM tests are vital to the health of the ICBM fleet as it ensures the system will do what it is commanded to do if needed and provides sustainment data to Air Force Global Strike Command and U.S. Strategic Command.

“As updates to software and hardware are fielded, testing helps verify the system continues to work as designed,” said Carnley. “A SELM test validates the combat capability of our fielded ICBM weapon system…while saving the taxpayer money, and without the risk of escalatory messaging that the equivalent number of operational test launches would require to accomplish the same task.”

From the 576^th FTS running the tests to the 91^st MW providing ground operations and maintenance support to SCW-1 providing the aircraft and aircrew, each organization plays a pivotal role to ensure the launch process is reliable and ready.

A major player in a SELM test is the 625^th STOS. The squadron is aligned under the 8^th Air Force and provides everything from the targeting package on the missile, to the systems that simulate the flight of the projectile, to the launch track and range safety coordinates, to the training that prepared the team and the ALCS operators that provided the key turn.

“We ensure the ALCS is able to fulfill its role as the backup to the launch control centers and ground crews in the case it is ever needed,” said Carnley.

With so many moving parts, scheduling these tests doesn’t occur overnight, they are planned out years in advance.

“We are currently on a five-year construct,” said Carnley.  “Specific preparations on the side of the 625th STOS start approximately four months in advance to coordinate our pieces of the mission. With two tests a year, as soon as one is complete, planning and preparation for the next one begins.”

Although a SELM test isn’t as visible as an operational test launch, it provides a great deal of value to the various organizations supporting the mission.

One such supporting organization is the Joint-Nuclear Operations Center (JNOC) at Barksdale AFB, La.

The JNOC has six divisions and the ICBM division monitors and observes each SELM test and assists as necessary explained Senior Master Sgt. Matthew Tobey, JNOC senior enlisted leader.

“Ensuring the sustainment and capabilities of our nuclear forces not only allows U.S. citizens to sleep soundly at night but provides global stability which also helps foster economic prosperity,” said Carnley. “It’s also a message to our Allies and adversaries: The ICBM leg of the nuclear triad is viable and ready at a moment’s notice to defend our freedoms and those of our Allies.”

Source: United States Strategic Command

BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La.  –  

The Secretary of the Air Force has approved the second and third basing locations for the B-21 Raider, the Air Force’s newest bomber. Those bases are Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri. and Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, in that order. Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota was previously selected as the first base to receive the B-21.

“We continue to achieve B-21 production milestones; through digital engineering and open architecture design, we are getting an agile strategic deterrent that delivers a decisive response as required,” said Gen. Thomas Bussiere, Air Force Global Stike Command commander.

The B-21 Raider represents a generational leap as a dual nuclear and conventionally capable, stealth, penetrating, long-range strike platform. Air Force Global Strike will remain ready and provide strike options for the country by continuing to maintain, modernize and keep its B-1 and B-2 bombers in service until the B-21 is delivered in the mid-2020’s.

The Air Force will purchase at least 100 B-21s. The strategic long-range bomber is currently in low-rate production and executing flight test.

Source: United States Strategic Command

​RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany  –  

Two U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortresses completed a double-transatlantic training mission Wednesday, Sept. 11, demonstrating the service’s ability to integrate with Allied nation forces while providing global strike capabilities anytime, anywhere. 

During the mission, the B-52s participated in a NATO-led integration exercise in Poland. This training exercise included aircraft and other units from the air, land, sea, cyber, and space domains that focused on integrating multi-domain effects from Allied nations, and improving command and control in a simulated, contested environment. 

In this instance, more than two dozen fighters, refueling and other aircraft from multiple nations worked in close coordination for the event.  

“The successful execution of this NATO-led mission affords us the opportunity to share best practices while also demonstrating our steadfast commitment to Allies,” said Gen. James Hecker, commander, U.S. Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa. “Our ability to work side-by-side with Allies is a key advantage, sending a message of assurance to our friends while also deterring potential aggressive actions by strategic competitors.” 

The B-52s mission, which originated and concluded at Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, and was conducted over Sept. 11-12, highlighted the agility of the aircraft crew and supporting units. 

The September mission is an extension of Bomber Task Force 24-4 in Europe, which made history over the summer when two U.S. B-52s operated from Mihail Kogălniceanu Air Base, Romania, for the first time.  

BTF 24-4 is one of several exercises and military activities, under multiple combatant commands, which enables the U.S. joint force to train with Allies and partners and improve shared understanding, trust, and interoperability on security challenges across the globe. 

BTF missions have taken place in Europe on a recurring basis since 2018. 

For more information, please contact the U.S. Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa Public Affairs office at usafepao.pao@us.af.mil. 

Source: United States Strategic Command

BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La.  –  

 In a significant shift towards enhancing combat readiness, the 2nd Bomb Wing activated two new bomber generation squadrons on August 22, 2024.

The 2nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron was deactivated and split into the 20th and 96th BGSs. This move is part of a mission-specific maintenance transformation aimed at increasing operational efficiency and combat capability.

The BGS concept was first developed by Maj. Ian P. Rohde, outgoing 2nd AMXS commander, during his time at Air Combat Command.

The concept works by transforming traditional aircraft maintenance squadrons into mission specific generation squadrons. Those squadrons are then organized, trained and equipped for combat in any theater where the unique capabilities of bombers are required to meet the combatant commander’s objectives.

A key component of the concept is allowing squadrons to operate independently from their host wing to align with their partner operational bomb squadrons throughout deployment cycles.

“Today’s threat requires us to move away from the static concept of sanctuary bases where we traditionally have large numbers of maintenance and munitions personnel,” said Rohde. “The way ahead is to reorganize the aircraft maintenance squadrons into bomber generation squadrons.”

Rohde says operational wings will apply these concepts by dividing and dispersing nuclear forces and conventional agile combat employment operations. With the increased flexibility, bombers can provide better integration and protection for allies and partners, even when landing in austere locations that otherwise might not be able to host bomber operations.

These changes will allow for standardized operations, whether at home or deployed, to allow for junior leaders to develop in the arts of aircraft production and maintenance generation, Rohde explained.

“There are several capabilities bomber generation squadrons will provide the combatant commander,” Rohde said. “We’re going to develop leaders much earlier in their careers. Our mission generation teams will operate with delegated mission command authorities, making our forces lighter, leaner, and faster, without the reliance on a traditional maintenance group force structure.”

The concept will also be applied across other Air Force Global Strike Command bomber bases as the command continues to innovate and prepare for the future.

“Tomorrow’s fight will be hotly contested, and we no longer have the luxury of assumed air superiority in the battlespace,” said Gen. Thomas Bussiere, commander, AFGSC. “This new capability will prepare our units to operate autonomously without the need for extensive command structure while giving us more flexibility in how we position our bombers. I absolutely believe this will be a key factor in future conflicts.”

Source: United States Strategic Command

F.E. WARREN AIR FORCE BASE, Wyo. —  –  

The Advanced Recapture Recovery Operational Warfighter exercise kicked off at Camp Guernsey, Wyoming, Aug. 5-23, 2024. Marking the second year of the annual event, Convoy Response Force teams from Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, F.E. Warren AFB, Wyoming, and Malmstrom AFB, Montana, had the opportunity to train and execute asset protection procedures.

Last year, CRF teams successfully participated in the first ever ARROW iteration, experiencing Air Force Global Strike Command’s newest revision . This year, the trend continued with each CRF team taking a week each to test their skills during multiple planned ambushes and attacks.

CRF teams are tasked with the protection of military assets during movements both to, from, and in the expansive missile fields of Minot AFB, F.E. Warren AFB and Malmstrom AFB, Teams continue to work with several different on-base agencies and local law enforcement teams in order to ensure the safety and security of military assets while in transit and on site.

ARROW continues to use the train-pause-train program during exercises, a program specifically developed to sharpen skills in the moment allowing the cadre to pause the exercise in the moment to instruct Airmen, rather than retrace and remember back at their home stations where details may have been lost.

“We’re assessing their ability to recapture and protect resources, we put teams through scenarios they might not be able to see at home station,” said Tech. Sgt. Kyree Joppy, 90th Ground Combat Training Squadron formal instructor and exercise coordinator. “It’s big for them to come here to show their capabilities while being a good place for them to test their weapons and vehicle capabilities on live ranges.”

ARROW is also the debut of the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle in a simulated combat scenario marking an Air Force wide first, underscoring Air Force Global Strike Command’s modernization line of effort.

“The JLTV is the Department of Defense’s pick to replace the Humvee and with that in mind, that is what has been selected as the vehicle for AFGSC both in the Missile Field and CRF,” said Master Sgt. Kevin Brown, AFGSC A3 training and development team member and one of the head AFGSC coordinators for ARROW. “It’s got amazing capability, better range, higher top speed and its off road capabilities far exceed the Bearcats and Humvees. This is a pretty good way for our Airmen to come out here and use these things and utilize them in the capacity they’ll be used in down the road as we phase out the Humvees.”

Through the introduction of the JLTV’s capabilities in the field and with continued springtime exercises like Nuclear Convoy Course, teams are given the chance to prepare and analyze their skills in a training environment specifically designed to mirror the challenges of the missile field. 

Now with ARROW’s second year wrapping up, the exercise has again proved its ability to train, evaluate and sharpen the skills of CRF teams from all three missile wings; allowing them, and the Wings, to ensure the nuclear enterprise’s continued safety and security.

Source: United States Strategic Command

DIEGO GARCIA, British Indian Ocean Territory  –  

U.S. Air Force Airmen assigned to the 110th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron completed a hot pit event with the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber during a Bomber Task Force mission, Aug. 21, 2024.

Hot pitting is the act of having an aircraft land, refuel and take off without shutting its engines down.

“If we lose a tanker or don’t get a tanker for aerial refueling, a hot pit enables us to move our jet from location to location, refuel and complete the mission,” said the 110th EBS deputy commander and B-2 pilot.

During the hot pit, pilots performed an engine-running crew change while the crew chief and ground team hooked the bomber up to a refueling tank, refueled the aircraft, and then got it airborne again.

While hot refueling is not foreign to members of the 110th EBS, it is a process that has been refined within the wing.

“In the past, our hot pit crews have been a large group, with a big footprint, going out and setting up,” said the deputy commander. “With more iterations of this process, we’ve been making it leaner under the Agile Combat Employment concept, where we can land a jet with the minimum number of people, turn the jet, and then get it airborne.”

Conducting hot pit events in various locations around the globe enables aircrew and support Airmen to maintain a high state of readiness and proficiency.

The hot pit was part of an overall BTF deployment conducted from Royal Australian Air Force Base Amberley, Australia.

Bomber missions contribute to joint force lethality and deter aggression in the Indo-Pacific by demonstrating the U.S. Air Force’s ability to operate anywhere in the world at any time.

The 110th EBS is composed of members assigned to the 509th Bomb Wing and 131st Bomb Wing, both located at Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri, as well as supporting members from across Pacific Air Forces.

 

Source: United States Strategic Command

OMAHA, Neb.  –  

Government, military, academic and international experts discussed and explored a broad range of deterrence issues Aug. 13-14 at the CHI Health Center in downtown Omaha, Neb., during United States Strategic Command’s (USSTRATCOM) 15th annual Deterrence Symposium.

Opening the event, USSTRATCOM Commander Gen. Anthony Cotton addressed the audience of 820, to include leaders from 15 international partner nations, asserting the assembled group collectively represented the “highest nuclear IQ on the planet.”

“The mission to deter strategic attack is as important as ever – as is our mandate to prevail in conflict when directed,” said Cotton. “[Our] Allies and partners are an asymmetric advantage over any potential adversary. Together, our deterrent force is as formidable as ever.”

Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr., Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, delivered the day two keynote address, emphasizing the importance of integrated deterrence in a changing global landscape.

“Instead of a bipolar world, we’re facing multiple adversaries and malign actors that create an increasingly dynamic strategic environment,” said Brown. “To achieve effective deterrence, we must understand our adversaries’ cognition and culture, the ever-evolving information environment, and the impacts of advancing technology. Integrated deterrence leverages all of our national instruments, and coordinating with our Allies and Partners ensures that we deter threats comprehensively, securing peace and stability in an increasingly complex world.”

After Brown’s remarks, he was joined on stage by Cotton and Mr. Terry Kroeger, who represented the Strategic Command Consultation Committee (SCCC), to announce the annual Gen. Larry D. Welch Deterrence Writing Award winners: Maj. David “Jobs” Phillips and Mr. Jyri Lavikainen. Each received a monetary prize, sponsored by the SCCC.

Other keynote speakers included Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen and Dr. Kimberly S. Budil, director of California’s Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.

The two-day symposium also featured a series of panels and break-out sessions where international deterrence experts and leaders discussed a wide range of topics, such as strategic posture in a multi-actor environment, the political and military nexus of nuclear deterrence, and challenges facing the defense industrial base.

“Although the strategic environment is changing, the objectives of deterrence remain the same,” said Cotton. “Make no mistake, the components of our nuclear triad have always been, and will continue to be, the backbone of our nation’s deterrent force. That is where deterrence starts.”

Source: United States Strategic Command

EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif.  –  

The 412^th Test Wing recently tested a new weapons pylon that could remove traditional weapon constraints. Known as the Load Adaptable Modular Pylon, the equipment recently flew attached to a B-1B Lancer test aircraft with the 419^th Flight Test Squadron.

Designed by The Boeing Company and referred to as the LAM, the unique pylon is designed to carry a variety of standard and emerging weapons with seamless transition, allowing for maximum agility while also strengthening weapon test infrastructure. While the B-1B was chosen due to aircraft availability at Edwards, the LAM can be modified for attachment to a variety of other aircraft if the need were to arise.

The LAM testing is one of several ways teams at Edwards are working with private industry to provide an innovative increase in test infrastructure. The overall test portfolio continues to rapidly increase during an era of Global Power Competition. The project also gives test professionals valuable experience in applying engineering and analysis objectives that could be applied to future programs.

Source: United States Strategic Command

BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La.  –  

The 2nd Bomb Wing conducted Exercise Bayou Warrior from June 10-13, 2024, to evaluate its ability to execute conventional missions.

“Bayou Warrior is a conventional readiness exercise that evaluates our ability to generate and execute missions,” said Lt. Col. Amanda Goncalves, 2nd Operations Support Squadron commander.

This exercise required collaboration among maintenance personnel, aircrew, and weapons loaders to efficiently generate and load conventional weapons. It involved detailed preparation, with months spent planning objectives, coordinating inspection teams, and developing realistic scenarios to prepare crews for real-world situations.

“It’s like a test at school,” said Goncalves. “They’ve studied and practiced, and now they’re showing what they know.”

Participating in exercises help Airmen refine their skills and procedures.

“Training and repetition are key,” said Goncalves. “We train like we fight, ensuring safety and precision in all operations.”

These exercises are essential for ensuring readiness at a moment’s notice. While the weapons were not actually deployed, flying with Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles, or JASSMs, significantly enhances the aircrew ’s proficiency.

“It’s not that common for us to actually fly around with JASSMs on the pylons,” said Capt. Timothy Walraven, 20th Bomb Squadron weapon systems officer. “It’s good for aircrew to fly with them, because it makes them more proficient in the sense that they have a better idea of what they are going to see.”

These training opportunities enable aircrews to get valuable experience on the ground and in the air when it comes to working with conventional weapons.

“There’s a little bit more work that goes into it,” said Walraven. “You have to preflight the weapons, make sure on the ground that they’re good to go, and that everything’s safe. Some of the screens that you see in the jet are different, some of the indications are going to be different, as well as maybe some of the parameters.”

Meanwhile, 2nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Airmen ensured the B-52s were prepared for take-off.

“Maintenance is being evaluated as part of this exercise,” said Master Sgt. Nickolas Shelton, 2nd AMXS production superintendent. “There’s added pressure to execute, but the biggest thing is making sure we’re doing our job and we’re doing it safely. We’re proud to do this and showcase that our people are trained and are ready to go.”

Upon completion of the exercise, data is compiled into a report identifying strengths and areas for improvement. This evaluation process allows for ongoing development and process refinement.

“These reports help us identify where we excel and where we need to improve, ensuring we’re always ready,” Goncalves said.

Exercises like Bayou Warrior sharpen Airmen’s skills and bolster the Wing’s ability to execute conventional missions and uphold strategic deterrence.

“The B-52 is definitely a sign of deterrence and support to our allies,” said Walraven. “It’s really inspiring to be a part of this mission.”