US deploys B52 bomber in Guam of Indo-Pacific region for 'Bomber Task Force'

Barksdale: Most advanced B52 Stratofortress bomber of the US Air Force with enormous firing capacity and 320 airmen have been deployed in the Guam base of the Pacific Ocean. This is to support the Bomber Task Force (BTS) missions of the Indo-Pacific region, as per US Air Force. Since the deployment, the B-52 bomber has conducted military drills and air forces of Japan and Indonesia, as confirmed by officials of the US Air Force.

US Air Force assigned the 2nd and 307th Bomb Wings of Louisiana to Guam. B-52 bomber arrived at Andersen Air Base on 27th August to support Bomber Task Force (BTF), as confirmed by BTS chief Lt. Col. Benjamin Poole. B-1B Lancer, long-range, multi-mission, conventional supersonic bomber, and the B-2 Spirit, also known as the Stealth Bomber, are already stationed at Guam Air Base.

Talking about the new B-52 deployment, Lt. Col. Benjamin Poole said, ‘The BTF provides an opportunity to enhance readiness and give aircrews the necessary training to respond to any potential crisis or challenge across the globe. We want to become more operationally unpredictable to adversaries. To do so, we routinely exercise with our allies and partners using our bomber forces.’ On arrival of B-52, it has conducted a military drill with Japan on Tuesday and with Indonesia on Wednesday along with F-16 and F15 aircraft, respectively. The US Air Force officials confirmed that this was the first joint military exercise conducted with Indonesia. The number of aircraft deployed from the two bomb wings is not yet ascertained. However, each wing has three squadrons, and every squadron has 18-20 aircraft or helicopters. Therefore, as per military analysts, there is a high possibility of the US increasing the number of aircraft deployed at the Guam Airbase.

Although the deployment of B52 bombers in Guam keeps changing after a specific time, however, this time, it is claimed to be significant in the context of China’s increasing military footprint and aggressive activities in the region.

Earlier this week, China introduces new maritime regulations for all foreign cargo and military vessels passing through the South China Sea. The US and Australia heavily criticized this. Within the next two days, the US Air Force conducting a military drill with its allies in the Pacific region signals a warning to China.

Along with the bombers, the US has enhanced its air and naval presence in the South Pacific region after China’s new regulation in the South China Sea. China has warned its enemies in the Indo-Pacific region to not depend on the US, citing the retrieval of US forces from Afghanistan. Besides, by imposing new regulations, China has stepped up its aggression to control South China.