This has been the first time, UK F-35 Lightning jets conducted integration flying training with the USAF B-2 Spirit stealth bombers.
Taken on Aug. 30, 2019 above the English countryside near Dover and Folkstone, the beautiful images in this post show B-2 Spirits, currently deployed to RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire (UK) as part of the Bomber Task Force, flying along with two RAF F-35B Lightning IIs.
As already reported on Aug. 27, 2019 three U.S. Air Force (USAF) B-2A Spirit Stealth Bombers arrived to RAF Fairford under the call signs DEATH11 (Spirit of New York), 12 (Spirit of Georgia) and 13 (Spirit of Mississippi) from Whiteman Air Force Base (AFB) in Missouri.
These jets are from the 509th Bomb Wing (BW).
The nuclear-capable, batwinged warplane can drop as many as 80 independently guided weapons on a single mission.
It is also capable of delivering a single block-buster bomb known as a Massive Ordnance Air Blast (MOAB) bomb on underground missile factories.
While in the UK, the aircraft will conduct a series of training activities in Europe.
Noteworthy this has been the first time, UK F-35 Lightning jets conducted integration flying training with the USAF B-2 Spirit stealth bombers.
Both are 5th generation aircraft and this is the first time that USAF B-2’s have trained with non-US F-35’s.
Group Captain Richard Yates, Chief of Staff at the UK Air Battle Staff said: “We’re delighted that the USAF and 501st Wing Bomber Task Force are here in the UK and that our F-35 Lightning pilots have the chance to fly alongside and train with the B-2 bomber crews.
“This is the first time that any other country has done this.”
Photo credit: Crown Copyright
