The Rockwell B-1B Lancer remains one of the workhorse bombers of the United States Air Force, and this month, a number of the Cold ധąɾ bombers were on the move again. Aircraft and crews from the 28th Bomb Wing at Ellsworth Air Force Base (AFB), South Dakota, were deployed to Andersen AFB, Guam, for the second time this year.

B-1B Bomber Rotations

The tasking of the Lancers to Guam followed North Korea’s recent wave of missile launches – the most in one year since Kim Jong Un took power in 2011, including a ballistic missile that was fired over Japan at the beginning of the month. In addition, tensions remain high as China has continued to rattle sabers over the sovereignty of Taiwan. Beijing has pledged solidarity with Russia over its eight-month ωɑɾ in Ukraine, and there are concerns China could see it as an opportunity to move against the self-governing island.

While deployed to Guam, the bomber crews will reportedly participate in several training missions with regional allies. Earlier this year, four B-1Bs had been deployed to Andersen AFB, and took part in missions with the Japan Air Self-Defense Force and a H๏τ-pit refueling operation with the Royal Australian Air Force at RAAF Base Darwin, Australia; a B-1B Lancer first.

“Bomber Task Force deployments and missions provide key ᴀssurances and cooperation with joint and partner allies in the region,” said Lt. Col. Daniel Mount, 37th Bomb Squadron director of operations. “The B-1 is an especially capable platform in this region, being able to travel large distances and bear significant firepower with precision and standoff munitions.”

The Air Force did not announce how many of the bombers – known among their crews as the “Bone” from its designation “B-One” – were sent back to Guam, or how long the deployment will last. However, these missions continue to support the 2018 National Defense Strategy objectives of strategic predictability and operational unpredictability, enabling strategic bombers to operate forward from a broad array of overseas and continental U.S. locations with greater operational resilience.

Task Force MineX

This week the B-1B Lancers also integrated with U.S. Naval forces over the Indo-Pacific region to conduct a  naval mine exercise (MineX) during the Bomber Task Force mission. The exercise highlighted the Joint Force lethality and was meant to deter aggression in the Indo-Pacific by demonstrating the Air Force’s ability to operate anywhere in the world at any time.

A team of 28th Munitions Squadron ωεɑρσռs loaders worked with U.S. Navy sailors from the Navy Munitions Command, Pacific Unit, Guam, and armed the B-1B Lancers with twenty-one Mark-62 Quickstrike mines, weighing 500 pounds each.

The Quickstrike is a family of shallow-water, aircraft-laid mines used against surface and subsurface craft, and provide a low-cost battle space shaping and force protection capability.

“MineX missions require close coordination and integration between the Navy and the Air Force,” said U.S. Air Force Col. Chris McConnell, 37th Bomb Squadron commander. “As one of the aircraft capable of releasing mines, we have to work with our Navy partners to understand where those munitions need to be placed to meet the desired objectives.”