The U.S. has deployed B-1B bombers to Guam ahead of a nuclear test expected by Washington by North Korea, though one expert says that the deployment appears to just be part of a "regular, rotational plan" and could be related to the biennial field training exercise Valiant Shield taking place in Guam this month.
The B-1B Lancer Bombers will be deployed in Guam for training along with regional allies and partners, according to an announcement by the U.S. military this week which said the Lancers landed in Guam on June 3rd.
A statement by the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command said, "U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancers landed at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, on June 3, 2022, for a Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) Bomber Task Force (BTF) deployment.
The personnel, aircraft, and assets arrived from the 28th Bomb Wing, Ellsworth Air Force Base, to conduct PACAF training alongside allies, partners, and the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command Joint Force" the statement continued.
In line with the National Defense Strategy’s objectives of strategic predictability and operational unpredictability, BTF missions demonstrate the ability of U.S. Air Force Global Strike Command to deliver lethal, ready, long-range strike options to Geographic Combatant Commanders anytime, anywhere".
Regarding the Valiant Shield exercises, the U.S. Navy put out a statement that said "U.S. Indo-Pacific command joint forces are scheduled to participate in exercise Valiant Shield (VS) 2022, June 6-17, on Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Palau and at sea around the Mariana Island Range Complex".
Participants include USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) and USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) Carrier Strike Groups, USS Tripoli (LHA 7), 94th Army Air and Missile Defense Command (AAMDC), I and III Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF), 36th Wing, 15 surface ships, more than 200 aircraft, and an estimated 13,000 personnel from the U.S. Navy, Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, and Space Force.
VS22 is a U.S.-only, biennial field training exercise (FTX) focused on the integration of joint training in a multi-domain environment. This training builds real-world proficiency in sustaining joint forces through detecting, locating, tracking, and engaging units at sea, in the air, on land, and in cyberspace in response to a range of mission areas. Exercises like VS22 allow forces across the Indo-Pacific the opportunity to integrate Navy, Marine Corps, Army, Air Force, Space Force, and Special Operations to train in precise, lethal, and overwhelming multi-axis, multi-domain effects that demonstrate the strength and versatility of the Joint Force.
VS22 FTX prepares the Joint Force to rapidly respond to crises and contingencies across the spectrum of operations from humanitarian assistance and disaster relief to armed conflict. VS22 assists U.S. forces in developing regional and global power projection capabilities. Integrated training provides a full range of options to succeed in defense of U.S. interests and those of its allies and partners around the world. This is the ninth iteration of the VS series that began in 2006".
The B-1B Lancer Bombers will be deployed in Guam for training along with regional allies and partners, according to an announcement by the U.S. military this week which said the Lancers landed in Guam on June 3rd.
A statement by the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command said, "U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancers landed at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, on June 3, 2022, for a Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) Bomber Task Force (BTF) deployment.
The personnel, aircraft, and assets arrived from the 28th Bomb Wing, Ellsworth Air Force Base, to conduct PACAF training alongside allies, partners, and the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command Joint Force" the statement continued.
In line with the National Defense Strategy’s objectives of strategic predictability and operational unpredictability, BTF missions demonstrate the ability of U.S. Air Force Global Strike Command to deliver lethal, ready, long-range strike options to Geographic Combatant Commanders anytime, anywhere".
Regarding the Valiant Shield exercises, the U.S. Navy put out a statement that said "U.S. Indo-Pacific command joint forces are scheduled to participate in exercise Valiant Shield (VS) 2022, June 6-17, on Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Palau and at sea around the Mariana Island Range Complex".
Participants include USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) and USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) Carrier Strike Groups, USS Tripoli (LHA 7), 94th Army Air and Missile Defense Command (AAMDC), I and III Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF), 36th Wing, 15 surface ships, more than 200 aircraft, and an estimated 13,000 personnel from the U.S. Navy, Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, and Space Force.
VS22 is a U.S.-only, biennial field training exercise (FTX) focused on the integration of joint training in a multi-domain environment. This training builds real-world proficiency in sustaining joint forces through detecting, locating, tracking, and engaging units at sea, in the air, on land, and in cyberspace in response to a range of mission areas. Exercises like VS22 allow forces across the Indo-Pacific the opportunity to integrate Navy, Marine Corps, Army, Air Force, Space Force, and Special Operations to train in precise, lethal, and overwhelming multi-axis, multi-domain effects that demonstrate the strength and versatility of the Joint Force.
VS22 FTX prepares the Joint Force to rapidly respond to crises and contingencies across the spectrum of operations from humanitarian assistance and disaster relief to armed conflict. VS22 assists U.S. forces in developing regional and global power projection capabilities. Integrated training provides a full range of options to succeed in defense of U.S. interests and those of its allies and partners around the world. This is the ninth iteration of the VS series that began in 2006".