B-52H crews complete third 'presence patrol' in Middle East this month

Jan. 28 (UPI) -- Air Force B-52H Stratofortress crews assigned to the 2nd Bomb Wing at Louisiana's Barksdale Air Force Base completed a "presence patrol" in the Middle East this week.

According to U.S. Central Command, on Wednesday the bomber aircrews integrated with air operations centers and several other aircraft for a "long-range, short-duration mission" intended to demonstrate the U.S. military's ability to rapidly deploy air power anywhere in the world.

This is the third such mission involving B-52s this month, following one on Jan. 8 and another nine days later.

"The United States does not seek conflict, but continues to be postured and committed to respond to any contingency around the world," said Central Command's press release on the patrol.

The Stratofortress is a long-range, heavy bomber that can fly at high subsonic speeds at altitudes up to 50,000 feet carrying a wide variety of precision guided ordnance.

This month's mission continues a regular showing of force in the area, as the aircraft were also in the Middle East several times at the end of last year.

In December, two U.S. B-52H Stratofortresses assigned to Barksdale's 2nd Bomb Wing flew a show-of-force mission in the Persian Gulf intended to deter attacks from Iran.

Before that, in November, two U.S. Stratofortress aircrews assigned to the 5th Bomb Wing, Minot Air Force Base, N.D., flew through the Middle East in a short-term mission.