A B-1B Lancer bomber was escorted by fighter jets from Israel, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Bahrain during a flight across the Arabian Peninsula on 30/10. The USAF aircraft is one of four B-1Bs that have been deployed at Diego Garcia Air Force Base in the Indian Ocean.
According to US Central Command, the B-1B performed a “presence patrol mission in the Central Region” which involved the presence of Allied aircraft. The supersonic bomber was escorted by Israeli F-15C/D Baz fighters; F-15 Eagle from the Royal Saudi Air Force and F-16 from Egypt and Bahrain. The B-1B also performed an in-flight refueling with a USAF KC-10 Extender.
The Israeli Air Force accompanied the bomber with an F-15C and a F-15D Baz, both armed with semi-active radar-guided AIM-7 Sparrow and heat-guided Python 4 missiles. The fighters also carried an Elta 8222 electronic warfare pod.
— Israeli Air Force (@IAFsite) October 30, 2021
Saudi Arabia led the escort using two F-15Cs and one F-15D carrying AIM-9X missiles. Two Egyptian F-16Cs accompanied the US aircraft. Bahrain's two F-16s carried AIM-120 AMRAAM and AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles.
B-1B returning to Diego Garcia
The B-1Bs arrived at Diego Garcia in October as part of yet another US Bomber Task Force (BTF). This maneuver marked the first time that B-1Bs have been sent to the archipelago since 2006.
The place received B-2 stealth bombers recently pointed out the The War Zone. other two B-1s were sent to England in early October, also on a BTF.
According to the portal, the deployment of supersonic bombers in Diego Garcia puts them in an ideal position to respond to contingencies and execute training and presence missions in the Middle East, Africa and the Western Pacific region.
Satellite images obtained by the website show that three KC-135 Stratotanker tankers were also sent to the island.
“The five-hour flight was a non-stop multilateral mission involving air forces to include Bahrain, Egypt, Israel and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.”
The BTF mission - the fifth in the U.S. Central Command's area of operation this year - was intended to deliver a clear message of safety, the command's top general said.
"We are stronger together" said General Frank McKenzie, commander of US Central Command. “Military readiness for any contingency or mission – from crisis response to multilateral exercises to presence patrols – depends on trusted partnerships.”
Retirement and Hypersonic Missiles
Recently the USAF completed the retirement of 17 Lancers, reducing from 62 to 45 bombers in the fleet. The action aims to reduce maintenance costs, retiring the most expensive aircraft.
The movement is also part of the preparation to receive the B-21 Raider, a future stealth bomber that will replace the B-1 itself and, in the future, the B-2. In September, two Boeing employees said the company wants to test hangers for hypersonic missiles in 2022.
Check out more images from the flight on 30/10.
#فيديو_الدفاع
سعودية (ف-١٥ سي) والقاذفات الأمريكية الاستراتيجية (B-1) في تمرين مشترك. pic.twitter.com/Q7JT8BSLLQ— وزارة الدفاع (@modgovksa) October 31, 2021
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