ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. -- Multiple B-1B Lancers launched from Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., on Oct. 24, 2019, as part of Bomber Task Force operations in U.S. Central Command.
The B-1s returned home after a mission that reached across the globe from South Dakota to Saudi Arabia. This deployment demonstrated the ability to rapidly deploy anywhere, anytime in the world, and provide lethal precision global strike options for combatant commanders.
“This is what we train for, and is what sets us apart,” said Col. David A. Doss, 28th Bomb Wing commander. “Let there be no doubt, our team and our B-1s always stand ready to answer our nation’s call at a moment’s notice.”
Support from KC-10 Extender and KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft assigned to Air Mobility Command and U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Africa were on hand to refuel the B-1s mid-flight. Multiple Air Operations Centers in the U.S., Europe and Southwest Asia supported this deployment with multiple hand offs.
The unannounced arrival of the B-1s at Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia, demonstrates the ability of Air Force Global Strike Command to rapidly deploy long-range precision strike capabilities from home station, anywhere on the globe, at any time.