The United States is pushing nuclear bombers to Europe because of the Crimea

The US Air Force transferred six B-52 nuclear bombers to Europe for exercises on "theater integration and flight training" with regional allies and NATO partners.

This step is regarded as a powerful signal to Russia, which these days celebrates the fifth anniversary military annexation of the Crimea.

The operational air group, consisting of B-52 Stratofortress bombers, pilots and auxiliary equipment from the 2-th bombing wing, based on the Barksdale air force base in Louisiana, arrived at the Royal Air Force Fairford base at the end of last week and has since participated in various training tasks on across Europe, reported to the US Air Force.

On Monday, March 18, four B-52 "flew to several locations in Europe, including the Norwegian Sea, Baltic Sea / Estonia and the Mediterranean Sea / Greece," the BBC reported.

Фото: Depositphotos

B-52 bombers from Andersen Air Force Base on Guam Island and Fairford Base also conducted “simultaneous exercises to familiarize themselves with theaters in the Indo-Pacific region and Europe”, when bombers “flew north to the area east of Kamchatka Peninsula "near Russia.

"In total, flights from the Indo-Pacific region and Europe have demonstrated the US commitment to its allies and partners through the global deployment of military forces," the BBC said in a press release.

The B-52 bombers first entered service in the 1950-ies, at the height of the Cold War, and were originally created as long-range intercontinental nuclear bombers capable of delivering a strike in the deeper regions of the Soviet Union.

A new modification of the B-52 was commissioned in the 1962 year, and the 48-meter aircraft became a symbol of the Cold War.

After the end of the Cold War, the aircraft underwent significant changes and were equipped with high-precision missiles, modern electronics and high-tech sensors.

According to the official information of the Air Force, each bomber can carry bombs, mines and rockets with a total mass of about 32 tons.

Moscow continues to build up its own military presence in the region, forcing the US to do the same.

However, the head of the US European Command says that this does not seem to bring results.

“I am not yet satisfied with our state of deterrence in Europe,” said General Curtis Scaparotti earlier this month.

According to him, his command faces a shortage of land and naval forces, as well as means of conducting reconnaissance, surveillance and reconnaissance.

“I’m worried about the potential for reconnaissance, observation and reconnaissance, given the growing threat from Russia. I need to increase it, ”he added.

“In light of the modernized and increasingly aggressive configuration of the Russian forces, the European command recommends increasing our forces, transferred to operational subordination, and forces that are in Europe on a rotational basis, to strengthen our deterrent position,” said Scaparotti.

The Kremlin criticized the transfer of B-52 strategic bombers to Europe.

“Of course, such actions by the United States do not lead to strengthening the atmosphere of security and stability in the region that is directly adjacent to the borders of the Russian Federation,” Russian Presidential Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov told reporters. “On the contrary, it causes additional tension.”

Earlier, Estonian special services stated about preparing Russia for a war with NATO over Belarus.

Recall that Russia threatened non-nuclear countries with a missile strike for cooperation with the United States, and the Russian leader himselfrigosil place supersonic nuclear weapons on ships and submarines near the US.