Air Force photograph by Senior Airman Curt Beach

A load crew team from the 2nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron removes BDU-50s, (inert munitions) general purpose unguided conventional weapons, from a B-52H Stratofortress at RAF Fairford, U.K., June 5, 2017. B-52s and Airmen from Barksdale Air Force Base, La., are working side-by-side NATO allies and partners during BALTOPS, Saber Strike and Arctic Challenge missions.

Three B-52H Stratofortresses and Airmen from U.S. Air Force Global Strike Command began conducting missions in support of Saber Strike 17 at Royal Air Force Fairford, United Kingdom, June 5, 2017.

Saber Strike 17 is this year’s iteration of a long-standing U.S. Army Europe-led cooperative training exercise that takes place in multiple locations throughout Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland from May 28 to June 24.

“Our guys are pretty excited. Coming into this environment offers a setting that we’re not familiar with, prepping for the unknown,” said Master Sgt. Kimmie Samuel, 2nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron weapons section chief. “The weather, rain, wind…this terrain is significantly different here versus back home.”

Saber Strike exercises help facilitate cooperation among NATO allies and partner nation focusing on promoting interoperability, and improving joint operational capability in a variety of missions.

Air Force photograph by Senior Airman Curt Beach

Senior Airman Aldrin Magalong, 2nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron load crew team chief, communicates with team members during a weapons download at Royal RAF Fairford, U.K., June 5, 2017. Load crews are participating in Saber Strike 2017, an annual, multinational, exercise designed to strengthen interoperability and cohesiveness between NATO allies and partner nations.

“We’ll be working with BDU-50 inert munitions, concrete bombs which are general purpose unguided conventional weapons during this exercise,” said Capt. Fleming Thompson, 20th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron wing weapons officer. “We’ll take them over to Tapa and work with NATO Joint Tactical Air Control and employ those in a joint environment.”

The inclusion of bombers in this exercise has been long-planned and provides an opportunity for bomber crews to integrate and train with other U.S. European Command components, while exercising the U.S.’ key bomber capabilities.

“We need to demonstrate that we can operate out of here, and these are good exercises that get us flying,” said Thompson. “They set a tempo. They set a bar out there for what they expect of us, and we try to get over the bar.”

Exercises such as Saber Strike provide vital opportunities, not only for multiple U.S. services to work together, but also for integrated, total force training with U.S. Reserve and Air National Guard units and our partner nations’ militaries to ensure interoperability. This cohesive effort is the bedrock of our collective military capability.
 

Air Force photograph by Senior Airman Curt Beach

A B-52H Stratofortress takes off from Royal Air Force Fairford, U.K., June 5, 2017, in support of exercise Saber Strike 17. Saber Strike 17 promotes regional stability and security, while strengthening partner capabilities and fostering trust. The combined training opportunities that it provides greatly improves interoperability among participating NATO Allies and key regional partners.

Air Force photograph by Senior Airman Curt Beach

Senior Airman Michael Ruiz, 2nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron load crew team member, fastens a BDU-50 (inert munition) general purpose unguided conventional weapon to a bomb lift truck at Royal Air Force Fairford, U.K., June 5, 2017. Load crews are participating in Saber Strike 2017.

Air Force photograph by Senior Airman Curt Beach

Senior Airman Aldrin Magalong, 2nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron load crew team chief, secures BDU-50s (inert munitions) general purpose unguided conventional weapons to a bomb lift truck at RAF Fairford, U.K., June 5, 2017.

Air Force photograph by Senior Airman Curt Beach

Senior Airman Michael Ruiz, 2nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron load crew team member, guides BDU-50s (inert munitions) general purpose unguided conventional weapons at Royal Air Force Fairford, U.K., June 5, 2017.