On Wednesday, Allied aircraft from NATO nations Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, United States and United Kingdom integrated over Poland for the exercise, according to Allied Air Command Information. The command has its headquarters at Ramstein Air Base, Germany.

The exercise demonstrated the service’s ability to integrate with Allied nation forces while providing global strike capabilities anytime, anywhere.

According to information from U.S. Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa command with headquarters at Ramstein Air Base, more than two dozen fighters, refueling and other aircraft from multiple nations worked in close coordination for the event.

“The successful execution of this NATO-led mission affords us the opportunity to share best practices while also demonstrating our steadfast commitment to Allies,” said Gen. James Hecker, commander, U.S. Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa, in a statement. “Our ability to work side-by-side with Allies is a key advantage, sending a message of assurance to our friends while also deterring potential aggressive actions by strategic competitors.”

A KC-135 Stratotanker from the 100th Air Refueling Wing at Royal Air Force Mildenhall, England, refuels a U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress from the 5th Bomb Wing at Minot Air Force Base over the North Sea on Wednesday. U.S. Air Force photo.

The training exercise included aircraft and other units from the air, land, sea, cyber and space domains.

More than 18 fighters and two bombers, refueling and support aircraft from seven nations worked in close coordination under the command and control of 4th Expeditionary Air Support Operations Squadron, Germany. Four Spanish F-18 Hornet jets, currently deployed on NATO’s Air Policing mission, joined the mission from Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base, Romania.

“These kinds of exercises are an incredible opportunity to train and demonstrate Spanish F-18 Hornet capabilities and determination” said Lt. Col. Rafael Ichaso, Spanish detachment commander, in a statement.

The B-52s mission, originating and concluding at Minot Air Force Base, was conducted over Wednesday and Thursday,

Minot Air Force Base is the only dual wing, nuclear-capable base in the Air Force. The 5th Bomb Wing has B-52 bombers and the 91st Missile Wing is responsible for operating, maintaining and securing Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missiles in the Minot missile field.

A U.S. Air Force B-52H Stratofortress, assigned to the 23rd Bomb Squadron, passes the air traffic control tower during takeoff for a Bomber Task Force mission at Minot Air Force Base on Tuesday. U.S. Air Force photo.

The mission this month is an extension of Bomber Task Force (BTF) 24-4 in Europe, which made history over the summer when two U.S. B-52s operated from Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base, Romania, for the first time, according to U.S. Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa.

BTF 24-4 is one of several exercises and military activities, under multiple combatant commands, which enables the U.S. joint force to train with Allies and partners and improve shared understanding, trust and interoperability on security challenges across the globe.

tBTF missions have taken place in Europe on a recurring basis since 2018.