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B-2 Spirit aircraft conduct hot pit refueling at Lajes Field

  • Published

U.S. Air Force B-2 Spirit aircraft flew from RAF Fairford, England, to Lajes Field, Azores, Portugal, on Sept. 9, 2019, to conduct hot pit refueling in the U.S. European Command area of responsibility.

The U.S. has a strong bilateral relationship with our NATO ally, Portugal. Training opportunities like this enhance our ability to operate together and sharpen the readiness of the NATO alliance.

The B-2 flight also allowed aircrew to conduct theater familiarization and to demonstrate U.S. commitment to allies and partners through the global employment of our military forces. U.S. Strategic Command regularly tests and evaluates the readiness of strategic assets to ensure we are able to honor our security commitments.

“Bomber Task Force missions provide us an opportunity to train and integrate with our allies and partners in the region,” said General Jeff Harrigian, commander, U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa. “When we bring bombers like the B-2 into theater, they deliver a measure of deterrence and enhance our ability to develop our overall readiness, our posture and further increase our partnerships across the globe.”

The B-2 aircraft, part of the Bomber Task Force currently deployed to RAF Fairford, is from the 509th Bomb Wing, Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri.

For more information, contact U.S. Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa Public Affairs at +49 06371-47-6558 or e-mail usafepao.pao@us.af.mil or usafepa.pastaffdutyofficer@us.af.mil.