US Air Force B-52H Stratofortresses from the 69th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron at RAF Fairford, England, have participated in FORTRESS HAIL, a Bomber Task Force (BTF) 25-2 mission, conducting dynamic targeting exercises over the Baltic Sea and a live weapons drop in Finland, according to the US Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa (USAFE-AFAFRICA).
The exercise, held on 6th March 2025, brought together NATO F-35 Lightning IIs, Finnish F/A-18 Hornets, and multiple NATO surveillance and refuelling assets, demonstrating seamless integration and enhanced operational readiness.
As part of the mission, the B-52s conducted a Find, Fix, Track, Target (F2T2) dynamic targeting exercise, working alongside:
- Dutch F-35 Lightning IIs
- NATO’s Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS)
- German KC-30 tankers
- British and US RC-135 Rivet Joint reconnaissance aircraft
This phase of the mission focused on improving intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) integration, as well as refining operational tactics, techniques, and procedures for NATO’s multi-domain operations.
Following the Baltic Sea exercise, the B-52s moved to the Rovajärvi Range in Finland, where they conducted GBU-38 Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) drops, supported by the Finnish Army and US Joint Terminal Attack Controllers (JTACs).
The live-fire drills were designed to enhance NATO interoperability and ensure precision strike capabilities, reinforcing NATO’s collective deterrence posture in Northern Europe.
FORTRESS HAIL is part of the ongoing Bomber Task Force (BTF) missions, which deploy US strategic bombers to Europe to train with NATO partners and enhance combined operational effectiveness.
According to the US Air Force, the exercise showcases the ability to rapidly integrate air assets across multiple nations, ensuring that NATO forces remain ready and capable of deterring emerging threats.
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Target tracked all the way too
Must have been awkward with no gps
What’s the point of Practicing with the US?
They are not going to be there!
They need to stop buying American F35 when we do not have access to the software. Canada are considering cancellations of these.
We need to wake up or decide whether to be ruled by the Chinese or America.
I am guessing we will surrender with only a whine!
There’s no point as This US is unreliable.
We must take the initiative in European NATO command to send the American staff home and lead for the interests of all European people.
There can be no influence for a country that will not uphold Article 5, especially no membership veto for USA.
They said they won’t support Article 5 so European NATO countries will take that duty and decide what security guarantees will be given to Ukraine.
We already started with Joint Expeditionary Force and Advanced Forward Presence.
🇸🇪🇳🇴🇩🇰🇫🇮🇪🇪🇱🇻🇱🇹🇳🇱🇬🇧🇩🇪
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Slava Heroyam 🇺🇦
#WeAreNATO
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