Two U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancers flew from their deployed location at Morón Air Base, Spain, to Incirlik Air Base, Türkiye, April 15, 2024 as part of a long-planned, routine training mission conducted under Bomber Task Force 24-2.
As part of the mission, the U.S. aircraft integrated with and trained alongside Turkish fighter aircraft before landing at Incirlik, where the U.S. aircraft are projected to conduct additional training events in coordination with Turkish forces.
“We would like to thank our Turkish hosts for their role in this vital training opportunity and for their on-going support to our team living and working as part of the Incirlik community,” said Col. Kevin Lord, the 39th Air Base Wing Commander. “Bilateral operations and routine engagement between U.S. and Turkish forces, including these recent bomber task force missions, strengthen our shared commitment to regional security and stability.”
U.S. European Command, U.S. Air Forces in Europe, and the 39th Air Base Wing officials also emphasized the importance of the partnerships with the Turkish Ministry of Defense and how bi-lateral training contributes to cooperation and shared defense in the region.
BTF 24-2 is a part of Large Scale Global Exercise 2024, an umbrella term that incorporates dozens of separate exercises and military activities under multiple combatant commands, which enables U.S. forces to train with Allies and partners to improve shared understanding, trust, and interoperability on security challenges.
The bombers and supporting personnel will conduct a series of missions throughout the BTF 24-2 deployment to train alongside Allies and partners. Through these missions, USAFE-AFAFRICA enables dynamic force employment in the European theater, providing strategic predictability and assurance for Allies and partners while contributing to deterrence by introducing greater operational unpredictability for potential adversaries.
