Watch out Putin! Enormous American B-52 bombers land at RAF base as part of largest US bomber deployment to the UK since Iraq war
- Arrival is ahead of NATO exercise in Georgia, a show of force against Vladimir Putin’s neighbouring Russia
- Show of force comes 11 years after the two countries – former Soviet Union partners – fought a nine-day war
- NATO said exercise’s aim, which begins tomorrow, ‘is to improve interoperability between NATO and Georgia’
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This is the incredible moment enormous American B-52 bombers land at a RAF base in the largest US bomber deployment to the UK since the Iraq war.
Amazing photos and video footage have captured the impressive US planes landing at RAF Fairford, in Gloucestershire, their new temporary base.
Their arrival on Thursday and Friday came ahead of a NATO exercise in Georgia, which will be a show of force against Vladimir Putin’s neighbouring Russia – though it is unclear if the B-52s will be involved.
This is the incredible moment that a US Airforce B-52 Stratofortress bomber comes in to land at RAF Fairford on Friday
Their arrival comes ahead of a NATO exercise in Georgia, which will be a show of force against Vladimir Putin’s neighbouring Russia – though it is unclear if the B-52s will be involved
The military show of force comes almost 11 years after the two countries – former Soviet Union partners – fought a nine-day war over breakaway regions of Georgia
The military show of force comes almost 11 years after the two countries – former Soviet Union partners – fought a nine-day war over breakaway regions of Georgia.
NATO said the aim of the exercise, which begins tomorrow, ‘is to improve interoperability between NATO and Georgia and educate the Georgian armed forces about NATO standards for collective training and exercise’.
The aircraft have joined the US European Command area of operations and they could be part of a deployment for flying training and ‘theatre integration’.
The aircraft have joined the US European Command area of operations and they could be part of a deployment for flying training and ‘theatre integration’
The aircraft from 2 Bomb Wing have flown from from Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana and part of the new deployment of the USAF Bomber Task Force in England
NATO allies, including the UK and US, are preparing for war games in Georgia under the banner ‘NATO-GEO EX19’
The planes, from 2 Bomb Wing, have flown from from Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana and are part of the new deployment of the USAF Bomber Task Force in England.
NATO allies, including the UK and US, are preparing for war games in Georgia under the banner ‘NATO-GEO EX19’.
A press conference will be held at RAF Fairford at 2pm on Tuesday, where more information is expected to be released about their deployment.
The is the largest deployment of a US single bomber platform since 2003 for Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Georgia’s NATO ambitions have been a source of anger for Russia – which does not want to see it join what it regards as a hostile military bloc – since 2008 when NATO leaders promised Georgia it would one day join the alliance.
NATO said the aim of the exercise, which begins tomorrow, ‘is to improve interoperability between NATO and Georgia and educate the Georgian armed forces about NATO standards for collective training and exercise’
The is the largest deployment of a US single bomber platform since 2003 for Operation Iraqi Freedom
Georgia’s NATO ambitions have been a source of anger for Russia – which does not want to see it join what it regards as a hostile military bloc – since 2008 when NATO leaders promised Georgia it would one day join the alliance
A press conference will be held at RAF Fairford at 2pm on Tuesday, where more information is expected to be released about their deployment
Russian forces entered two breakaway Georgian regions in 2008, which remain garrisoned by Russian troops to this day, something Moscow says is in keeping with local people’s wishes, but which the West and the Georgian government call an illegal occupation.
NATO leaders discussed ties with Georgia at their summit in Brussels in July, a move Dmitry Medvedev, who was president when Russian and Georgian forces clashed in 2008, condemned.
‘As for the recent NATO decision reaffirming its commitment to eventually admit Georgia, what can I say to this? It is an absolutely irresponsible position and a threat to peace,’ said Medvedev.