A pair of US Air Force (USAF) B-1B Lancer bombers participated in missions against vessels involved in illegal fishing in South America. The activities were conducted in partnership with Ecuador and Panama.
According to the United States Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), the B-1B took off from Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, on Wednesday (7) as part of a Bomber Task Force (BTF) mission in the area of responsibility of Command.
During activities on the South American continent, the jets were refueled in flight by KC-135 tanker planes, while working with partner nations to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing operations off the coast of Ecuador, near the Galapagos Islands.
“This type of regional military engagement strengthens our partnership with Ecuador and Panama and increases interoperability and improves our collective readiness for a range of potential future operations – from disaster relief to humanitarian assistance and security operations. ability to work together in times of crisis”, said SOUTHCOM leadership.
“There are certain things that only Air Force Global Strike Command airmen can do, and this is one of them. make it look easy, but it's hard work,” said Colonel John C. McClung, commander of the 7th Operations Group.
The 7th Bomb Wing accepted the unique challenge of BTF missions. This mission marks the fourth BTF rotation in 2022, including a UK deployment and two round-trip missions to the US, with stints in the African Command and Indo-Pacific Command areas of operations.
Colonel Joseph Kramer, commander of the 7th Wing, congratulated the crews on their departure and highlighted the strategic significance of the mission. “We are competing in our own hemisphere. These bomber missions demonstrate our ability to respond to threats in today's complex, dynamic and volatile global security environment anytime, anywhere.”, said the officer.
Air Force Global Strike Command routinely conducts BTF operations around the world with and in of Geographic Combatant Commands. This mission represents the US commitment to our partners to maintain regional security and stability while allowing units to become familiar with operations in different regions.
In service since the 80s, the B-1B is one of the aircraft that make up the US bomber triad, alongside the B-52 Stratofortress and B-2 Spirit, and is also the only supersonic aircraft capable of exceeding 1300 km. /h and transport 34 tons of bombs internally or 23 tons externally.
Despite its performance, the B-1B is an expensive aircraft to operate. Therefore, the USAF is heading towards its complete retirement by 2036, having already retired 17 planes in 2021.
With USSOUTHCOM
