Two B-52 Bombers Fly Rare Mission in Support of SOUTHCOM

Two B-52 bombers from Barksdale Air Force Base flew a mission in the U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility last week, a relatively rare trip below the equator.

The Air Force released photos of the long-range bombers from the 2nd Bomb Wing in flight, as well as a KC-135 from the 6th Air Refueling Wing at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., refueling them during the June 19 sortie. A spokesperson for the 12th Air Force—Air Forces Southern—told Air & Space Forces Magazine that six KC-135s from multiple locations participated in the training.

The spokesperson declined to identify what countries and areas the B-52s flew over as part of the mission, but did say the exercise took place in compliance with “all international requirements and protocols in the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean and Northern part of South America.”

Open-source flight tracking data showed a KC-135 from MacDill flying over the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean, and Central America, before approaching Ecuador and Peru from the east before returning home along a similar route.

“This mission was authorized by STRATCOM and closely planned with SOUTHCOM, the U.S. Embassies, and the appropriate partner nation government agencies to ensure maximum training and integration,” the spokesperson said. “STRATCOM Bomber Task Force missions help maintain global stability and security by demonstrating the ability to operate in different environments and locations while building ally and partner military capabilities.”

In a statement, Air Forces Southern said missions like this help “units to become familiar with operations in different regions” and show a commitment “to shared defense in Latin America.”

Unlike the Indo-Pacific, Europe, or even the Middle East, bomber deployments in the SOUTHCOM region are relatively rare. It has been a year since a B-52 last flew a mission over Latin America, and B-1s last participated in a SOUTHCOM mission in 2022.

This latest sortie comes on the heels of SOUTHCOM’s three-week multilateral exercise, Resolute Sentinel, which wrapped up June 14.

The exercise involved more than 1,500 personnel from all branches of the military participating, along with representatives from Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, Chile, Brazil, and France, according to a 12th Air Force release. In air operations, over 326 flight hours were logged across 299 air tasking order sorties.

“Resolute Sentinel 2024, as part of Large-Scale Global Exercise 24, is a demonstration of our ability to seamlessly operate together to maintain global freedom and stability,” Maj. Gen. Evan Pettus, 12th Air Force commander, said in a statement.

The exercise primarily took place in Peru, with emphasis on improving medical readiness through field hospital drills and community healthcare to strengthen regional disaster response capabilities, particularly for earthquakes, hurricanes, and floods.

The exercise featured the first blood delivery to Peru in its three-year history, from Joint Base Charleston, S.C., to Lima, using a C-17 Globemaster III from the 167th Airlift Wing of Shepherd Field Air National Guard, W.V.

“Resolute Sentinel tests the full spectrum of medic interoperability across the Americas, ensuring we can work with our allies to rescue wounded warriors.” said Col. Brian Gavitt, 346th Expeditionary Operational Medical Readiness Squadron commander, in a release.  

Airmen from the U.S. and Peru, alongside Peruvian Coast Guardsmen, also participated in joint aeromedical evacuation training in Lima. They focused on practicing critical care procedures, such as IV administrations and mid-air blood transfusions aboard a C-130J Super Hercules.