B-52 Stratofortress bombers supporting U.S. Africa Command began flying alongside fighters from allies in North Africa Monday in a series of interoperability training missions. Two B-52s in the Bomber Task Force Mission, including at least one from the 5th Bomb Wing at Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota, flew alongside four F-16s from the Moroccan air force Monday, according to an AFRICOM release. On Tuesday, two B-52s trained with a pair of F-16s from the Tunisian air force, another release said. During that exercise, the bombers will take part in a mock interception of the aircraft carrier Teddy Roosevelt, which will be playing the part of a hostile vessel. And the missions help the U.S. demonstrate its commitment to helping partner nations in Africa, Army Maj. Gen. Joel Tyler, AFRICOM’s director of operations, said in Monday’s release.

Source: The North Africa Journal September 08, 2020 21:11 UTC