Submitted Photo Two B-52H Stratofortress aircraft fly together during bomber task force mission SPARTAN MACE on March 7. :Photo by Staff Sgt. Kristen Heller.

RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany – U.S. Air Force B-52H Stratofortresses from the 69th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron at RAF Fairford, England, participated in FORTRESS HAIL, a Bomber Task Force 25-2 mission that included a dynamic targeting exercise over the Baltic Sea involving NATO F-35 Lighting IIs and a live weapons drop with Finnish F/A-18 Hornets on March 6.

The exercise integrated U.S. aircraft with Dutch F-35 Lightning IIs, NATO’s Airborne Warning and Control System, German KC-30 tankers, and British and U.S. RC-135 Rivet Joints.

The B-52s later proceeded to Rovajärvi Range in Finland, where they conducted GBU-38 Joint Direct Attack Munition drops with support from the Finnish Army and U.S. Joint Terminal Attack Controllers.

On March 7, two U.S. Air Force B-52H Stratofortresses integrated with two Italian Air Force Eurofighter Typhoons and Italian ground forces for SPARTON MACE, a Bomber Task Force 25-2 mission focused on enhancing close-air support interoperability.

Escorted by Eurofighter Typhoons, the B-52s entered an Italian military range near Sardinia Island, where they conducted simulated live bomb drops under the guidance of Italian Joint Terminal Attack Controllers.

SPARTAN MACE marks the 10th operation integrating U.S. B-52s with Allied air and ground forces during this BTF 25-2.