1. Home
  2.  » 
  3. Russia
  4.  » US B-52s fly over all 30 of NATO’s nations taking aircraft within sight of Russia
  • US B-52 bombers flew over all 30 NATO states in 12-hour mission dubbed Operation Allied Sky on May 31 
  • Four B-52s took part in European leg, escorted by 100 fighters and airborne fuel tankers from 22 nations
  • US-based bombers simultaneously flew through American and Canadian airspace to complete the tour
  • Show of strength comes ahead of meeting between Presidents Biden and Putin on June 16 in Geneva

Chris Pleasance – Daily Mail June 3, 2021

American nuclear bombers have flown over all 30 NATO states in a show of strength ahead of Joe Biden‘s first meeting with Vladimir Putin since becoming president.

Four B-52 long-range bombers took part in the European leg of Operation Allied Sky, which saw them fly over 28 of the allied states over the course of 12 hours, including the likes of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuanian – on Russia‘s doorstep.

At the same time, more B-52s based in the US flew through American and Canadian airspace to complete the tour of NATO members.

General Jeffrey Harrigian, commander of US and NATO air forces, called the mission ‘an awesome demonstration of NATO air superiority’ and said it proves ‘there is no challenge we cannot tackle’.

It is just the latest large-scale NATO exercise to take place ahead of a meeting between Presidents Biden and Putin scheduled for June 16 in Geneva.

Huge sea drills involving British aircraft carrier Queen Elizabeth – accompanied by a submarine plus destroyers and frigates- are currently taking place near Portugal.

They will be followed up later in the month by ground exercises taking place around the Black Sea, close to the Russian border.

Operation Allied sky is now in its second year, having taken place for the first time in 2020 with six B-52 bombers – four flying over Europe, and two over the US.

It is thought another four bombers took part in the European leg of this year’s drill, after they were redeployed from America to Moron Air Base, in Spain, several weeks ago, Stars and Stripes reported.

The US Air Force did not specify how many aircraft took part in the American leg of the mission this year.

During the European mission, the bombers were escorted by 100 fighters from 22 different NATO nations.

The operation also involved KC-135 Stratotankers stationed at RAF Mildenhall in England which refuelled the flying fortresses while they were in the air.

Continues …