Watch: MOD will not provide old Typhoons to Ukraine
The US Bomber Task Force in Europe is hugely vital to Nato, according to a senior commander.
Air Marshal Johnny Stringer, the Deputy Commander of Allied Air Command, told BFBS Forces News that US Air Force B-52 bombers currently flying sorties from RAF Fairford provide a high level of capability to the alliance.
He said: "It's hugely vital. There have been nine Bomber Task Force deployments into Europe since Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine, seven of them operating here out of RAF Fairford in the UK.
"It's a great opportunity for us to also integrate and practise all of Nato's air forces alongside B-52.
"It's a vital message to Putin and those who would do us harm that Nato is serious about deterrence and is serious about the defence of Europe."
The task force has been flying training missions from the UK across Europe and to the Middle East over the last few weeks.
Bomber Task Force Europe rotations began in 2018 to provide bomber crews opportunities to train with air and ground forces from other Nato countries.
Rotations can deploy to air bases in several allied countries, including Norway, Romania and Spain, as well as the UK.
Watch: US Air Force B-52 bombers fly alongside Nato allies
Integration and interaction
Air Mshl Stringer explained: "What we have done is operate up into the High North, we've operated into the east of Nato's area up to the Black Sea and we've operated through Central Europe as well. So really, all across the European theatre.
"There has been some interaction with the Russians, but most importantly, of course, it's a great opportunity for us to integrate the air forces together with the B-52 on a variety of missions."
Their latest training takes place as question marks remain over the future contribution of American Forces in Europe under the new Trump administration.
When Air Mshl Stringer was asked if he thought the task force would continue, he replied: "Well, I'll leave the politics to politicians.
"What I think you're seeing here is testament to 75 years of the world's most successful alliance. Like all alliances and all relationships, over time they have their ups and their downs."
But he pointed out that while Nato was made up of 30 nations before Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the alliance has now grown to 32.
And he said the fact that Nato was practising complex but essential deterrence missions across Europe tells its own story.
Watch: B-52s leave runway as Bomber Task Force 24-3 gets underway
New president, same task force
The administration at the White House may have changed, but this has not resulted in any changes to the Bomber Task Force in Europe.
And Major General Jason R Armagost, the Commander of the Eighth Air Force's Joint-Global Strike Operations Centre, said there were no planned changes moving forward.
"We plan together, we fly together, we integrate in the after-effects of discussing what it is we've done," he explained. "So I think there's a constant demand for that.
"And there's a constant demand for that to increase to the point where we are having deep conversations about what the structure of our long-range strike force looks like for the United States Air Force because of that demand."
Many question marks remain over what the US presence in Europe will look like in the coming months. Military leaders will have to wait and see what their political masters decide.
But, in the meantime, they continue to work together, maintaining the status quo until ordered otherwise.
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