American B‑52H Bombers make historic landing in Romania amid tensions
Two American B-52H Stratofortress bombers have arrived at the Mihail Kogelniceanu Air Base in Romania. Interestingly, they were intercepted by Russian fighters in international airspace; however, as the U.S. Air Force Command reported, this did not affect the mission objectives in which the B-52H Stratofortress are participating.
Romanian media and their Air Force noted that the B-52H Stratofortress has arrived in the country for the first time in history. They flew over the Black Sea as part of the Bomber Task Force 24-4 mission, which is another indication of the strengthening of NATO's eastern flank.
"NATO’s Eastern Flank is looking strong on this historic day. For the first time ever, B-52 Stratofortress bombers from Barksdale Air Force Base landed in Romania in support of #BomberTaskForceEurope," the Romanian Air Force highlighted in a Facebook statement.
B-52H Stratofortress on NATO's eastern flank
Boeing developed the B-52H Stratofortress, a strategic bomber capable of carrying over 30,000 kilograms of various types of armament, including conventional weapons (bombs, mines, missiles, cruise missiles) and nuclear weapons. This American giant measures nearly 49 metres in length and approximately 56 metres in wingspan. Its impressive range reaches over 16,300 kilometres.
The first variant of this bomber was developed in the 1960s. Despite this, the Americans do not intend to abandon it. They plan further modernisation.
The route of the B-52H Stratofortress heading for Romania included regions over northern Finland. It was there that Russian fighters intercepted American bombers. However, the Kremlin knew little about NATO's plans, and additionally, as assured in an official statement issued by the Alliance, the B-52H Stratofortress were in international airspace over the Barents Sea.
"Two B-52H Stratofortress arrived at the Mihail Cogalniceanu airbase on 21 July as part of the Bomber Task Force 24-4 drills, the US European Command said. This is the first time that US strategic bombers capable of carrying nuclear weapons have operated in Romania, according to Ukrainian media," the statement reads.
