All three of U.S. Air Force Global Strike Command's strategic power projection bombers, the B-52 Stratofortress, B-1B Lancer and B-2 Spirit, conducted joint mission for the first time from the U.S. territory of Guam.
The Department of Defense said on Friday the three nuclear bombers took off from Andersen Air Force Base in Guam on Wednesday and carried out the first coordinated operation in the region under the U.S. Pacific Command. The bombers are three major strategic nuclear assets of the U.S. military along with the intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) and the submarine launched ballistic missile (SLBM).
The U.S. military deployed the strategic bomber trio at Andersen Air Force Base early this month to conduct missions including "continuous bomber presence" (CBP). The B-52 had been deployed in Guam since 2006, while the B-1B was positioned on August 6 and the B-2 on August 9. The U.S. Strategic Command said, “We are providing deterrence to maintain stability in the India-Asia-Pacific region by rotationally deploying strategic bombers on a regular basis in the region.”
The diplomatic community in Washington understands that the unusual joint operation of the three major nuclear bombers following their deployment in Guam is targeting China and North Korea, where tension has been rising over the planned deployment of the terminal high-altitude area defense (THAAD) system in South Korea.
The U.K.-based military magazine IHS Jane's Defence Weekly said that the joint operation is targeting North Korea constantly honing nuclear and missile provocations and China making sovereignty claim over the over the South China Sea. Along with President Barack Obama's visit to Hangzhou, China for the G20 summit on September 2, the measure can be interpreted as an armed protest against Beijing to warn not to act rashly and irresponsibly, analysts say.
Posted August. 22, 2016 07:07,
Updated August. 22, 2016 07:17
No comments:
Post a Comment