Submitted Photo Aircrew prepare to board a B-52H Stratofortress on the flightline Nov. 20 at Minot Air Force Base, shown in this photo by Airman 1st Class Jesse Jenny of Minot AFB.

MINOT AIR FORCE BASE – B-52 bombers and personnel from Minot Air Force Base have to be ready at a moment’s notice if called to head to locations across the globe.

Last weekend B-52s and aircrews from the Minot base completed a short-notice, long-range mission into the Middle East to deter aggression and reassure U.S. partners and allies, according to U.S. Central Command officials.

The non-stop mission demonstrated the U.S. military’s ability to deploy combat airpower anywhere in the world on short notice and integrate into U.S. Central Command operations “to help preserve regional stability and security,” Command officials said.

Lt. Gen. Greg Guillot, 9th Air Force (Air Forces Central) commander, said Bomber Task Force missions highlight “the robust and varied” U.S. Air Force capabilities that can be made rapidly available in the Central Command Area of Responsibility.

“The ability to quickly move forces into, out of and around the theater to seize, retain and exploit the initiative is key to deterring potential aggression. These missions help bomber aircrews gain familiarity with the region’s airspace and command and control functions and allow them to integrate with the theater’s U.S. and partner air assets, increasing the combined force’s overall readiness,” Guillot added.

During the mission, Central Command officials said the bomber aircrews integrated with air operations centers and Central Command assets such as F-15E “Strike Eagles,” F-16 “Fighting Falcons,” KC-10 “Extenders” and KC-135 “Stratotankers.”

The last U.S. long-range bomber presence in the Middle East was in early 2020, according to Central Command information.

Several Minot AFB bombers and a number of personnel recently took part in Bomber Task Force Europe, a global bomber mission to familiarize aircrews with air bases, air power and operations in various geographic regions. They operated out of Royal Air Force Fairford, England, taking part in combined training with U.S. allies and partners. The Minot AFB contingency returned to the Minot base in late September.

Minot AFB is the Defense Department’s only dual-wing, nuclear-capable base. The base has B-52 bombers and Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missiles, the latter in underground facilities in the Minot missile field. The strategic bombers and land-based missiles are part of the nuclear triad. The third leg is the Navy’s submarine-launched ballistic missiles.