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380AEW Article

380th Air Expeditionary Wing launches to support bomber task force

  • Published
  • By Staff Report
  • 380th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
AL DHAFRA AIR BASE, United Arab Emirates --  Aircraft assigned to the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing launched in support of a bomber task force mission in the U.S. Central Command theater of operations, Dec. 10.

The launch included an E-3 Sentry from the 968th Expeditionary Airborne Air Control Squadron, an EC-130 Compass Call from the 430th Expeditionary Electronic Control Squadron, two KC-10 Extenders from the 908th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron, and four F-16 Fighting Falcons from the 480th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron.

“Bomber task force missions enable our Airmen to integrate air, land, and sea power using platforms from across the globe in support of partner assurance in the region,” said Maj. Daniel Watson, 380th AEW weapons officer. “Flexible response is built into our daily operations - it’s what we do as a professional air force.”

The bomber task force consisted of two B-52 Stratofortress aircraft from Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana. In addition to the 380th AEW, the global strike aircraft integrated with regional partners, and provided the opportunity for synchronized air operations across the theater.

"The ability to fly strategic bombers halfway across the world in a non-stop mission, and to rapidly integrate them with multiple regional partners demonstrates our close working relationships and our shared commitment to regional security and stability," USCENTCOM Commander Gen. Frank McKenzie said in the command’s official release. "Our ability to work together as partners on a mission like this heightens our collective readiness to respond to any crisis or contingency."

The 380th AEW supports all five core missions of the U.S. Air Force from its strategic location in the United Arab Emirates, which include air and space superiority; intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance; rapid global mobility; global strike; and command and control.

“Generating aircraft in support of a globally synchronized mission requires discipline and coordination from the whole team,” said Col. Laura Goodman, 380th Expeditionary Maintenance Group commander. “Our maintainers and logistics support professionals demonstrate an unfailing state of readiness and flexibility to deliver aircraft and munitions availability at the right time and the right place.”