B-52 bombers are flying long-range sorties in support of NATO naval forces during Exercise Noble Justification in the Atlantic and Mediterranean this month, US Strategic Command announced. “The B-52s will perform two long-range sorties from the continental United States to the US European Command area of operations and back,” STRATCOM spokesman Maj. Martin O’Donnell told Air Force Magazine on Oct. 22. “The participation of US bombers … was specifically requested by NATO leadership,” STRATCOM commander Adm. Cecil Haney stated in a command release. “It is important that we continue to train our strategic bomber force in a variety of joint environments, to ensure we remain proficient in key skill sets,” Haney added. Air Force B-2s and B-52s deployed for exercises in Europe, staging from RAF Fairford, England, earlier this summer. Europe-based KC-135s and F-16s are also taking part in the 13,000-strong international exercise, which runs Oct. 13-26.
The Air Force has launched yet another new squadron dedicated to electronic warfare as part of its effort to expand expertise in the field. The 23rd Electronic Warfare Squadron stood up at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., home to the service’s sole wing focused on EW, the 350th Spectrum Warfare…