A coordinated show of strength unfolded over Lithuania as U.S. B-52 Stratofortress bombers integrated with NATO forces during Bomber Task Force 25-1, exercise Vanguard Merlin.
The live fire range training took place at Cudgel Range, Lithuania, from November 14-15, 2024, highlighting NATO’s unity and readiness to meet complex security challenges.
The exercise featured a U.S. B-52 Stratofortress working alongside an Italian Eurofighter Typhoon in air-to-ground range training. The operation was supported by Lithuanian, Czech, Swedish, and Norwegian joint terminal attack controllers, with an enhanced deployed team from Norway further solidifying NATO’s commitment to collective defence.
Lt. Col. Inga “NATO” Wuerges of the U.S. Air Force, a tanker planner with the 603rd Air Operations Center and a key figure in organising the exercise, emphasised the importance of these multinational drills:
“BTF comes to the European theater a few times during the fiscal year, which gives our Allies and partners invaluable training opportunities. When we do live drops in ranges throughout NATO, all Allies and partners get the chance to enhance readiness capabilities to operate in a more diverse and challenging environment.”
The live fire exercises allowed participating nations to refine operational skills and enhance interoperability, ensuring NATO remains a cohesive and adaptable alliance, say the Alliance. This mission also provided aircrew with opportunities to familiarise themselves with operations in Lithuania and coalition forces on the ground, strengthening collective combat readiness.
Highlighting NATO’s strategic presence, Lt. Col. Wuerges shared her personal journey during an appearance on Lithuanian television. Born in Lithuania during the country’s fight for independence, Wuerges later joined the U.S. Air Force, inspired by her upbringing and the universal pursuit of freedom. Reflecting on her role, she remarked:
“I grew up in Lithuania during the times of its struggle for independence. I think that it uncovered my calling to serve and because I was in the United States it was acceptable for me to serve in the Air Force, in a sense that we all have to fight for our freedom.”
Exercise Vanguard Merlin is one of several Bomber Task Force missions that reaffirm NATO’s readiness to address diverse and evolving security challenges, demonstrating the alliance’s commitment to maintaining stability in the region.
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It’s interesting to look at Polands defence build up. If they follow through with their plans they will be Europe’s strongest ground force by some distance.
It will also be interesting how that impacts our relationship with the US, who might see Poland as a more useful European ally and an exit path for then to fully tilt to China.
Poland has land war potential with the bear and upped its game due to trump isolationism and franco German mishandling of Putin
Poland ‘upped’ its game in regards to increasing it’s Military Capabilities post the 2022 Invasion of Ukraine by Russia – which happened under the Presidency of Joe Biden btw !.
They have but equally that force can be used to support the US in replace of the UK. The US only really needs the UK for being able to justify its actions to its own citizens under we are acting with our partner nations and therefore in the right.
Although a shift to China probably makes our navy way more useful than a ground force.
It is shocking that the new normal is to be surprised that countries pay for majority of their own defence instead of waiting for Uncle Sam.
About time they did something with the baltics notsis
I’m personally sick of all the warmongering by humanity generally. All it results in is death of young men and women, fighting, destruction of people’s homes, and civilians left often destitute. The world should ban warfare and make it anti social, like smoking has been made.
You’re so right Tay 👍
Our leaders and elites appear to be uptight, shortsighted, narrow-minded imbeciles. ❤️✌️
I’ve seen the Polish Primeminister on here/this? He’s tough. Let us not forget when Germany invaded Poland in 1939 so did Russia from the other side & after the war an Iron Curtain fell across Eastern Europe (an area I have visited & enjoyed ) Churchill warned Truman, allegedly Truman ignored him instead siding with Stalin ?(I stand to be corrected?) I’ve heard it said Putin wants to rebuild the USSR & Warsaw pact
The question is ,will the European Union stand ?
Wy don’t you force that on russia.not possible
It’s interesting that a journal of this caliber does not know the difference between Latvia and Lithuania.
Go Inga 🏳️🌈 we are collectively f¥€£ed. 😉
I thought Latvia and Lithuania were different nations? Headline says Latvia, article says Lithuania. Author is in bad need of a geography lesson.
Hopefully they the guys flying the bombers were better educated.
Who is proofreading these articles? The title says Latvia and the article is on Lithuania think this needs correcting pronto!!!!
About time they did something with the baltic notsis
Hahahahaha, latvia lithuania, tomoto, tamoto, welcome to the world of who gives a f*”k. Were being run by WGAF people everywhere. Headlines being used to datamine, not really selling news. Who honestly is affected by fake bomb runs by 58yo bombers….and i aint talking Tyson, just usual “whoda best yanks’.
If the journalist who wrote this reads these remarks maybe they can explain….the best thing written here is by Tay.
And thats from an ‘old soldier’.
Peace and love to all and sh😉t pie to those who dont get ‘it’.
Sense and humour will save the day 🙌🎄
Is there even a country that goes by that name anymore??????
Thanks for your service 🙏 I totally agree what you said
Strange! I did not know that Latvia and Lithuania is the same country. All article is about Lithuania, but tittle says Latvia.
It’s been tried many times has failed many times because when one or several countries become aggressive and believe that it is their destiny to conquer other countries and rule over the rest of the world for one thousand years or whatever then the countries being attacked have no choice but to defend themselves and fight back. Many countries have feuds going back several thousand years and they refuse to forgive and forget the wrongs done to their ancestors and they want revenge. Sadly sometimes religion is also a problem when people of faith take the position that only their faith is the one true faith and that all others are heretics or pagans and must be converted to the one true faith even if that means killing them.
They are not one country they are two separate countries that are part of the baltic states. Estonia is the third country that makes up the baltic states. They are very small countries and aren’t as well off as other nato countries. So they are having difficulties reaching that goal of spending a certain amount of their economy on national defense. They use to be part of the former USSR. With the fall of communism in the USSR they like Ukraine and several other former members of the USSR opted for independence and democracy. We need to be patient with them because it is going to take time for them to get to a point where they can afford to spend much money on national defense.
Author has to do some geography homework. Title doesn’t match the story. Latvia and Lithuania are two different countries.
Latvia and Lithuania are two different countries, before to text any nonsense learn geographic basics…. Clowns… 😂
UKDJ is being overrun by drive by shooting posters because the author, who no doubt is a busy man, wrote Latvia then Lithuania.
You lot are the saddos for actually making an issue of it.
And sabotage is suspected on two sets of undersea cables.
This is asymmetric warfare and NATO should take the lead in preparing for actual warfare.
The hole world is feed up with it
But tell rusher.not doing nothing gives the world to them
I think EVERY country on the planet, including the NATO countries AND China, send a message to Russia, N Korea, Iran, that this is enough. Stand down or we will end all of your governments You 3 are lthe same as having a meth lab for a neighbor.
Hey, a guy can dream …
I’m an ashamed American who can’t help but notice a similarity between Biden/Putin and Chamberlain/Hitler. I’m also a conservative who despises Trump for his megalomaniacal.antics, but can he deliver a Churchill performance to the world, even if by accident? Now I’m delusional. I never knew it was contagious.