A B-52 bomber from Minot AFB, N.D., launched July 9 on a 16-hour, non-stop training sortie, rendezvousing with Colombian air force aircraft over Colombia this week, US Strategic Command announced. The 5th Bomb Wing crew also flew a demonstration as part of the Colo?mbian international airshow in Antioquia, Colombia, on Thursday. “The aircraft’s participation in this airshow and the training conducted alongside our Colombian partners allow our strategic aircrews to maintain a high state of readiness and crew proficiency,” STRATCOM Commander Adm. Cecil Haney said in a release. A B-52 conducted training in the US Southern Command area of responsibility last year during Exercise PANAMAX, and also appeared at the Colombia international airshow back in 2006, according to STRATCOM.
The Department of the Air Force is consolidating more than 50 programs supporting its efforts to create a vast battle network into a single $4.5 billion contract vehicle to streamline software and technology integration.
