‘The Heavies’ - US Air Force heavy jets protecting the Alliance

Protecting the Alliance is no small feat – and a job that requires thousands of troops, assets, skills and expertise from across the Alliance, which all together contribute to keeping our people safe. Part of this feat is taken on by the biggest bomber planes in NATO’s arsenal – the B52s – which are keeping watch over Europe from an airbase in the United Kingdom. These massive planes from the US Air Force are stationed at RAF Fairford airbase as part of Bomber Task Force Europe, a mission that sees them deployed to Europe on a rotational basis. These bombers are slower and less manoeuvrable than NATO’s strike fighters, but they carry the kind of firepower that can deter would-be aggressors through sheer presence alone. During their deployment, the bomber crews learn how to fly through European airspace and work more effectively with Allied forces, both in the air and on the ground. Plus, for crew members who have never been to Europe before, the training missions offer an opportunity to look out the window, gaze down upon new landscapes and reflect on the importance of an enduring defensive alliance. UNITED KINGDOM 03.01.2025 Courtesy Video Natochannel