A pair of B-52s flew a more than 14,000-mile strike mission from Barksdale AFB, La., to Jordan, as part of US Central Command’s Exercise Eager Lion earlier this week, US Strategic Command announced. The flights were “specifically designed to ensure maximum opportunities to synchronize and integrate USSTRATCOM bomber capabilities with regional partners, fostering cooperation and increasing interoperability,” said STRATCOM Commander Adm. Cecil Haney in a release. The 2nd Bomb Wing B-52s flew alongside Jordanian F-16s and coordinated with Jordanian joint terminal attack controllers, demonstrating conventional weapons employment during the more than 30-hour mission, May 17-18. The multi-national exercise included some 10,000 US and partner nation forces, according to the release.
The Air Force could conduct an operation like Israel's successful air campaign against Iran's nuclear sites, military leadership and air defenses, but readiness issues would make it risky, airpower experts said. Limited spare parts and training, low mission capable rates and few flying hours would put a drag on USAF's…