A U.S. Air Force B-52H Stratofortress, assigned to the 23rd Expeditionary Bomb Squadron, Minot Air Force Base, N.D., lands on the flight line in support of a Bomber Task Force mission at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, July 7, 2025. U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Alyssa Bankston
Audio of this article is brought to you by the Air & Space Forces Association, honoring and supporting our Airmen, Guardians, and their families. Find out more at afa.org
The Air Force kicked off a bomber task force deployment to Guam coinciding with a large-scale USAF exercise in the region that is intended to reinforce deterrence against China.
B-52H Stratofortress bombers deployed to Anderson Air Force Base, Guam, from their home at Minot Air Force Base, N.D., Air Force Global Strike Command, which oversees the nation’s bomber force, announced July 9.
The bombers are operating as the 23rd Expeditionary Bomb Squadron while deployed and are assigned to the 5th Bomb Wing. The deployment is occurring during the Resolute Forces Pacific, or REFORPAC, exercise, which is scheduled to involve approximately 300 aircraft.
“This deployment is in support of Pacific Air Forces’ training efforts with Allies, partners, and joint forces and strategic deterrence missions to reinforce the rules-based international order in the Indo-Pacific region,” AFGSC said in a news release.
The command stated there were “multiple” B-52s deployed, but did not indicate how many bombers were part of the BTF. At least two B-52s flew to Guam, according to open-source flight tracking data.
U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Bethany Jones, 23rd Expeditionary Bomber Generation Squadron assistant dedicated crew chief, performs post-flight maintenance on a USAF B-52H Stratofortress after a Bomber Task Force mission at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, July 7, 2025. U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Vincent Padilla
For 16 years, the Air Force maintained a continuous bomber presence on Guam. That ended in 2020 when the service opted to rely on bomber task forces deploying from the U.S. instead to various locations around the world. But Guam remains a regular spot for U.S. bombers.
The Pentagon has not previewed the specific missions the B-52s are scheduled to conduct during their BTF deployment, which have generally been billed as unpredictable and flexible training events. However, AFGSC offered heavy hints that the bombers will likely be participating in one of the multiple exercises occurring in the Pacific this summer.
“This deployment includes support for regional Joint events,” the command stated.
The B-52s on Guam are not the only BUFFs deployed to the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command region. There are also four B-52s deployed on the island of Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, where they have been stationed since May after taking over for B-2 Spirits that conducted airstrikes against the Houthis in Yemen until the U.S. reached a ceasefire with the group.
U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Andrew Yeingst, 23rd Expeditionary Bomber Generation Squadron production superintendent (left), and USAF Maj. Noah Spitler, 23rd Expeditionary Bomb Squadron director of operations (right), conduct an informal post-flight debrief after a Bomber Task Force mission at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, July 7, 2025. The BTF missions enable crews to maintain a high state of readiness, proficiency, and validate our always-ready global strike capability. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Vincent Padilla)
A U.S. Air Force B-52H Stratofortress assigned to the 23rd Expeditionary Bomb Squadron, Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, sits on the flight line after a Bomber Task Force mission at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, July 7, 2025. U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Alyssa Bankston
U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Bethany Jones (left), and USAF Staff Sgt. Peter James Olandez (right), 23rd Expeditionary Bomber Generation Squadron crew chiefs, perform post-flight maintenance on a USAF B-52H Stratofortress after a Bomber Task Force mission at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, July 7, 2025. The U.S. demonstrates commitment to allies and partners, including those in the Indo-Pacific, through the global employment of military forces, such as regular BTF deployments. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Vincent Padilla)
U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Bethany Jones, 23rd Expeditionary Bomber Generation Squadron assistant dedicated crew chief, performs post-flight maintenance on a B-52H Stratofortress after a Bomber Task Force mission at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, July 7, 2025. The BTF missions enhance operational readiness and provide the training necessary to respond to any potential crisis or challenge in the Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Alyssa Bankston)
A U.S. Air Force B-52H Stratofortress assigned to the 23rd Expeditionary Bomb Squadron, Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, receives post-flight maintenance after a Bomber Task Force mission at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, July 7, 2025. The U.S. demonstrates commitment to allies and partners, including those in the Indo-Pacific, through the global employment of military forces, such as regular BTF deployments. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Vincent Padilla)
U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Jovan Marrero, 23rd Expeditionary Bomber Generation Squadron crew chief, performs post-flight maintenance on a USAF B-52H Stratofortress after a Bomber Task Force mission at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, July 7, 2025. The BTF missions enable crews to maintain a high state of readiness, proficiency, and validate the always-ready global strike capability. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Alyssa Bankston)
U.S. Air Force crew chiefs assigned to the 23rd Expeditionary Bomber Generation Squadron, Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, observe post-flight maintenance on a USAF B-52H Stratofortress after a Bomber Task Force mission at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, July 7, 2025. The BTF missions enable crews to maintain a high state of readiness, proficiency and validate the always-ready global strike capability. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Alyssa Bankston)
U.S. Air Force Airmen assigned to the 5th Bomb Wing, Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, greet new arrivals supporting a Bomber Task Force mission at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, July 7, 2025. These missions deter adversaries, assure allies and partners, strengthen interoperability, and maintain readiness and global strike capability. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Alyssa Bankston)
U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Peter James Olandez, 23rd Expeditionary Bomber Generation Squadron dedicated crew chief, performs post-flight maintenance on a B-52H Stratofortress after a Bomber Task Force mission at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, July 7, 2025. The BTF missions enhance operational readiness and provide the training necessary to respond to any potential crisis or challenge in the Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Alyssa Bankston)
Audio of this article is brought to you by the Air & Space Forces Association, honoring and supporting our Airmen, Guardians, and their families. Find out more at afa.org
The Pentagon is significantly bolstering airpower near Venezuela, dispatching the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group to Latin America, it said in an Oct. 24 statement. The announcement came just hours after U.S. Air Force B-1 bombers and other U.S. assets flew near the Venezuelan coast on Oct. 23.
An Air Force OA-1K Skyraider II crashed near Oklahoma City on Oct. 23, with a civilian contractor and Active-duty Airman escaping uninjured. The OA-1K was on a training mission when the crash occurred, less than 10 miles from the base.
Shield AI has entered the increasingly crowded field of Collaborative Combat Aircraft, this week announcing its “X-BAT” vehicle that stands out from others by having both vertical takeoff and landing capability and supersonic speed.
Multiple B-21s are undergoing ground tests and being prepared to join the two aircraft now in test flight, and the Northrop Grumman is negotiating with the Air Force about how expanded production for the bomber could be accomplished, president and CEO Kathy Warden said Oct. 21. She also suggested a…
Lockheed Martin is taking a “home run” approach to self-funded research and development by going ahead and building full prototypes to show to the U.S. government, CEO Jim Taiclet said Oct. 20—a plan he hinted could apply to technology the company is hoping to shift to the F-35 from its…
The B-52 bombers that flew off the coast of Venezuela on Oct. 15 were accompanied by Marine Corps F-35s as part of a so-called “Bomber Attack Demonstration,” according to new images and information from the Pentagon.
A quartet of B-1Bs from Dyess Air Force Base, Texas have landed at Misawa AB, Japan, likely for a series of exercises with Japanese, U.S. and Australian forces.
In announcing its Navy Collaborative Combat Aircraft contract, General Atomics has provided some clues as to where the service is heading with its version of an armed, autonomous fighter escort. It will likely be quite different from the Air Force version.
In the wake of an intense storm, Alaska Air National Guard Airmen evacuated more than 500 residents by C-17s as heavy storm surges flooded villages in the region.
Subscribe to the Air & Space Forces Daily Report
The latest news from Air & Space Forces Magazine, as well as news from other leading publications, delivered right to your inbox every morning!
We’re sorry, there has been an error. Please review your input or try again later.