RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany — U.S. Air Force B-52H Stratofortress bombers deployed from Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, arrived at Morón Air Base, Spain, on November 8, 2025, to participate in Bomber Task Force Europe 26-1 (BTF 26-1). The deployment brings U.S. bomber crews together with Finland, Lithuania, and Sweden, along with other NATO allies and partner nations, to conduct joint training and strengthen operational coordination.
The Bomber Task Force mission began in 2018 under the Air Force Global Strike Command in response to the 2018 National Defense Strategy. It focuses on Dynamic Force Employment, allowing U.S. strategic bombers to operate from unfamiliar locations and integrate with allied and partner forces. BTF evolved from the Bomber Assurance and Deterrence missions launched in April 2014 and now serves as a flexible, rapid-response tool for theater integration and multinational training.
During the deployment in Spain, B-52 crews will conduct a series of training sorties simulating operations in complex, high-threat environments. Crews will practice key aspects of the find, fix, track, and target process, improving speed and accuracy while countering simulated air and ground threats designed to restrict their maneuverability. These exercises enhance aircrews’ ability to act decisively, maintain freedom of movement, and achieve air superiority in real-time operational scenarios.
BTF Europe 26-1 also demonstrates U.S. commitment to deterrence along Europe’s Eastern Flank and the High North. Previous BTF missions in Europe included deployments to the United Kingdom, Norway, Romania, Sweden, and Iceland. Crews conducted historic firsts, including the first B-1B landing in Poland and joint operations with Lithuanian Special Operations Forces. Past missions also included pre-deployment integration during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, showing how BTF enables rapid allied coordination under real-world conditions.
Deployments like BTF 26-1 allow the U.S. Air Force to refine tactics, enhance flexibility, and test readiness of both crews and aircraft. By operating alongside allies in multilateral exercises, bomber crews improve interoperability and strengthen the collective warfighting capability. These missions underscore the Air Force’s ability to respond quickly to emerging threats while maintaining a credible strategic deterrent and projecting power across Europe.
