In order to enhance interoperability between forces, two U.S. Air Force (USAF) B-52H Stratofortress strategic bombers and Italian Air Force (Aeronautica Militare) Eurofighter Typhoon fighters trained together as part of Exercise Spartan Mace, which is integrated into the Bomber Task Force 25-2 mission. The primary objective of this training was joint operations in close air support, conducting live-fire exercises with bomb drops on a designated range.
The mission, which took place over the past few days, began with the entry of two U.S. B-52H bombers into Italian airspace, where they were escorted by Aeronautica Militare Eurofighter Typhoons to a military range near the island of Sardinia. Subsequently, simulated bomb drops were conducted in coordination with Joint Terminal Attack Controllers (JTACs), refining precision strike capabilities in a complex training environment.
The bombers belong to the 69th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron, currently operating from RAF Fairford, United Kingdom. From this location, the USAF’s strategic bombers conduct various operations alongside NATO countries. Spartan Mace marks the tenth mission in which U.S. B-52Hs have integrated with air and ground forces under the BTF 25-2 initiative.
The presence of the Eurofighters is part of a broader effort to strengthen cooperation with NATO forces in the Baltic region and reinforce regional security. In October, for example, the U.S. opened a storage facility at Aviano Air Base in northeastern Italy to support airborne troop operations across Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. This facility is expected to become a “crucial hub for the rapid offloading of equipment” to enhance interoperability with the U.S. Air Force.
Additionally, some of these same units recently participated in the first deployment of the year, which included a 24-hour flight featuring live weapons drops at training ranges. On that occasion, two B-52H aircraft were accompanied by four KC-135 Stratotanker refueling planes, flying toward France and the Mediterranean before turning east into the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) area of responsibility. Once there, Iraqi Air Force F-16IQ Vipers and USAF F-15E Strike Eagles joined the bombers for an escort mission.
As is customary, these Bomber Task Force deployments serve as a form of power projection, demonstrating the U.S. Air Force’s and its allies’ global strike and rapid deployment capabilities. In these operations, U.S. strategic bombers act as the primary assets leading formations that include various allied military aircraft, providing escort, coverage, and support capabilities.
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