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Incredible photos of Dutch F-16s intercepting US B-52 bombers during an exercises over Europe
DAVID CENCIOTTI, THE AVIATIONIST
APR. 8, 2015
On April 2 two US B-52 Stratofortress strategic bombers, one assigned to Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, and the other assigned to Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, conducted round-trip missions from their home bases to the Arctic and North Sea regions respectively.
The two bombers were taking part in “Polar Growl,” an exercise aimed at testing the ability of the aircraft and their aircrews to operate with international partners in the northern part of the globe.
One of the aircraft, belonging to the 2nd Bomb Wing from Barksdale, flew over the North Sea and was intercepted multiple times by the Royal Canadian Air Force, the UK Royal Air Force and the Royal Netherlands Air Force.
The other “Buff” on the Arctic leg, belonging to the 5th Bomb Wing from Minot, flew with Canadian CF-188 fighters around the North Pole.
The Dutch F-16s of the RNAF took some stunning photographs of the (quite rusty!) B-52 they intercepted over the North Sea.
The US regularly conducts similar combined training and theater security engagements with allies and partners. In October 2014, B-52s were involved in NATO Exercise NOBLE JUSTIFICATION while in June of the same year Air Force Global Strike Command B-52s and B-2s deployed to RAF Fairford, UK, to train alongside regional partners.
The last time US bombers were launched on Arctic missions, the Russians reacted with a spike in air incursions in the Baltic Sea and around the Scandinavian peninsula.
Dutch F-16s intercepting US B-52 bombers - Business Insider
DAVID CENCIOTTI, THE AVIATIONIST
APR. 8, 2015
On April 2 two US B-52 Stratofortress strategic bombers, one assigned to Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, and the other assigned to Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, conducted round-trip missions from their home bases to the Arctic and North Sea regions respectively.
The two bombers were taking part in “Polar Growl,” an exercise aimed at testing the ability of the aircraft and their aircrews to operate with international partners in the northern part of the globe.
One of the aircraft, belonging to the 2nd Bomb Wing from Barksdale, flew over the North Sea and was intercepted multiple times by the Royal Canadian Air Force, the UK Royal Air Force and the Royal Netherlands Air Force.
The other “Buff” on the Arctic leg, belonging to the 5th Bomb Wing from Minot, flew with Canadian CF-188 fighters around the North Pole.
The Dutch F-16s of the RNAF took some stunning photographs of the (quite rusty!) B-52 they intercepted over the North Sea.
The US regularly conducts similar combined training and theater security engagements with allies and partners. In October 2014, B-52s were involved in NATO Exercise NOBLE JUSTIFICATION while in June of the same year Air Force Global Strike Command B-52s and B-2s deployed to RAF Fairford, UK, to train alongside regional partners.
The last time US bombers were launched on Arctic missions, the Russians reacted with a spike in air incursions in the Baltic Sea and around the Scandinavian peninsula.
Dutch F-16s intercepting US B-52 bombers - Business Insider
