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U.S., Partner Aircrews Conduct Middle East Presence Patrol

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Coalition and regional partner air forces joined two U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress strategic bombers, two KC-10 Extender tankers and three KC-135 Stratotanker tankers on a presence patrol mission across the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility on June 8, 2022. 

An airplane flies over a desert region.
Presence Patrol Mission
A U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress strategic bomber, of the 5th Bomb Wing, conducts a presence patrol mission with coalition and regional partners over the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility June 8, 2022. Presence patrol missions demonstrate the U.S.-led coalition’s commitment to promoting regional stability.
Credit: Air Force Master Sgt. Matthew Plew
VIRIN: 220608-F-QP712-0477

 
The bomber's flight originated at Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, and flew over the East Mediterranean, Arabian Peninsula and Red Sea before departing the region. 
 
"Presence patrols, like today's, show the United States' continued commitment and interoperability with our partners in the region," Air Force Lt. Gen. Greg Guillot, Ninth Air Force commander, said. "These highly coordinated efforts demonstrate our combined ability to provide global reach and joint security to the region."

An airplane is reflected the lens of a man looking outside.
Refueling Ops
Air Force Airman 1st Class Kaleb Brewer, a KC-135 Stratotanker aerial refueling specialist assigned to the 350th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron, conducts refueling operations with a U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress strategic bomber from the 5th Bomb Wing during a presence patrol mission with coalition and regional partners over the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility June 8, 2022. Presence patrol missions demonstrate the U.S.-led coalition’s commitment to promoting regional stability.
Credit: Air Force Master Sgt. Matthew Plew
VIRIN: 220608-F-QP712-0345

 
The number of joint and regional partners participating as well as the long duration of the U.S.-based mission, which demonstrated U.S. capabilities to rapidly respond to threats worldwide, makes the flow of air power during this presence patrol particularly significant. The nine-hour presence patrol flew into the U.S Central Command area of responsibility, flying over the Red Sea and rejoining with partner nation aircraft along the flight path before departing the region. 
 
The B-52 aircraft and crew are assigned to 5th Bomb Wing, Minot AFB and flew the mission under the mission set of Air Force Global Strike Command’s bomber task force. 

An airplane flies closely and approaches the back of another aircraft.
U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress conduct a presence patrol mission
Air Force B-52 Stratofortress, assigned to the 5th Bomb Wing is refueled by a KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft assigned to the 350th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron over the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility June 8, 2022.
Credit: Air Force Staff Sgt. Ashley Sokolov
VIRIN: 220608-F-HX271-0173B

 
Through Ninth Air Force, U.S. Central Command has facilitated three presence patrol missions in 2022 as a demonstration of the U.S.-led coalition's commitment to promoting regional stability. Only one B-52 flew in the last bomber-led mission across the Central Region on March 29, 2022. 

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