ROYAL AIR FORCE FAIRFORD, United Kingdom (AFNS) — B-52H Stratofortresses from Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, and about 800 Airmen from Air Force Global Strike Command deployed to Royal Air Force Fairford to support a number of exercises with joint partners, and U.K. and NATO allies.

Training with allied nations and joint partners improves coordination between nations and enables the U.S. Air Force to build enduring relationships necessary to confront a broad range of global challenges. The strategic bomber deployment will support exercises Arctic Challenge, Saber Strike and Baltic Operations in the U.S. European Command area of responsibility throughout the month of June2017.

The Arctic Challenge exercise, aimed at strengthening partnerships and increasing interoperability, includes participants from the U.S., Finland, Sweden, Norway, the U.K., Germany, France, Belgium, Switzerland, Canada and the Netherlands, as well as representatives from NATO.

Press release USA MOD/USAF