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PRESS RELEASE: U.S. bombers demonstrate global strike capability during Exercise Eager Lion

  • Published
  • By Headquarters, Eighth Air Force

Annual event is one of the largest in the Middle East region

BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. -- Two B-1B Lancers from Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota, launched May 17 on a non-stop, “global strike mission” in support of Exercise Eager Lion, one of U.S. Central Command’s premiere exercises, held in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. 

The 35-hour, 14,000-mile, round-trip global strike demonstration will take place during a field training exercise following a week-long series of border security, command and control, cyber defense and battlespace management simulations.

This is the first time the B-1 will participate in Eager Lion, which is now in its seventh year.

"For any of our bomber crews, this exercise presents an excellent opportunity to pursue engagements with the Jordan Armed Forces and other partners to better address common threats to regional security at the operational level,” said Maj. Gen. Thomas A. Bussiere, Eighth Air Force commander. “Eager Lion will exercise the crew’s ability to integrate with multinational forces in a different part of the world and enhance interoperability and cooperation among a wide range of exercise participants.”

Eager Lion is an annual U.S. Central Command exercise in Jordan designed to strengthen military-to-military relationships between the U.S., Jordan and other international partners. This year's iteration, which began May 7 and is scheduled to end May 18, is comprised of about 7,200 military personnel from more than 20 nations.

For inquiries regarding the global strike mission’s role in the exercise, please call 8AF Public Affairs at (318) 529-1101 or (318) 529-1019. For all other exercise questions, contact the Jordan Armed Forces Directorate of Moral Guidance at eagerlion17@jaf.mil.jo.