B-1 Bombers Fly To Sweden for the First Time

May 21, 2020 (EIRNS)—For the first time ever, the B-1 bomber has been seen over Sweden. On May 20, two B-1Bs from Ellsworth, South Dakota, flew a training mission that included a close air support exercise with the Swedish military that included working with Swedish Air Force Gripen jet fighters and Swedish combat controllers on the ground at a Swedish training range, reported Air Force Times.

On their way to Sweden, the B-1s also overflew Britain where they were escorted by Royal Air Force Typhoon fighters. They also flew tactical training with Norwegian Air Force F-35s, and flew a low approach over Ørland Air Station, the home of Norway’s F-35 fleet.

In the ground realm, the Army announced yesterday that it had reactivated V Corps, reported Military.com. V Corps had previously provided a command and control capability above the level of Army divisions in Europe but had been disbanded in 2013 as there were no longer any divisions in Europe. The reactivated V Corps will be based at Fort Knox in Kentucky, but will have a forward element of about 200 troops in Europe. “The activation of an additional Corps headquarters provides the needed level of command and control focused on synchronizing U.S. Army, allied, and partner nation tactical formations operating in Europe,” Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. James McConville said in a statement. The move came after a U.S. European Command request, the Army said.