B-52 conducts long-range training with Colombian forces

OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. (AFNS) -- A B-52 Stratofortress from Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, conducted a long-range training sortie to engage with South American military partners April 1-2.

During the course of the 27-hour, nonstop mission, the aircrew trained with the Colombian air force before executing a flyover of the International Fair of Air and Space in Santiago, Chile.

"This bomber mission is just one of many demonstrations of our ability to maintain a credible strategic defense force," said Adm. Cecil D. Haney, the U.S. Strategic Command commander. "Within the last year, U.S. Strategic Command bomber forces have conducted missions with Canadian, Colombian, Australian and Jordanian forces in national and international airspace. In addition to the outstanding training value realized by the U.S. and our partners, these missions demonstrate the credibility of our forces to address a global strategic and security environment that is more diverse and uncertain than at any time in our history."

STRATCOM routinely displays its capability to command, control and conduct global bomber missions, most recently by deploying B-52s into the U.S. European Command and B-2 Spirits into the U.S. Pacific Command areas of responsibility last month.

One of nine Defense Department unified combatant commands, STRATCOM has global strategic missions, assigned through the Unified Command Plan, which include strategic deterrence; space operations; cyberspace operations; joint electronic warfare; global strike; missile defense; intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; combating weapons of mass destruction; and analysis and targeting.