B-1 Bombers Return to U.S. Base After NATO Training in Sweden Amid Rising Russian Threat

Heavy B-1 bombers returned home to Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota after being deployed to participate in an annual European training exercise on February 23.

Knewz.com has learned that the bombers were temporarily stationed at Luleå-Kallax Air Base in Sweden, the newest member of NATO, and were integrated into the Swedish Armed Forces, NATO allies and other international partners during the Global Guardian drills, according to the Air Force.

A B1-B Lancer performs a flyby for troops. By: U.S. Air Force

The B-1 bombers played the role of adversary during the exercises, and they received intercepts from fighter jets across a wide geography ranging from Greenland to the Arctic Circle, said the military branch on its official news site.

“Through this exercise, we enhance interoperability within the NATO Alliance, reinforcing our commitment to collaborative efforts that foster international security and stability,” said Gen. James Hecker, the commander of the U.S. Air Forces in Europe.

The exercises were important because of Sweden’s official approval to join NATO, which means the military needs to be integrated into the defense pact and learn its military structures and standard operations.

Swedish Air Force Col. Peter Greberg said that being able to host the U.S. was crucial because of its role in NATO.

Joe Biden speaking during the early days of Sweden’s ascension into NATO. By: MEGA

“Joining NATO means bringing our two countries together,” he said. “I’m looking forward to that and having more opportunities to train,” he said.

Sweden was officially approved to join NATO on February 26 after a temporary delay from Hungary. Sweden was prompted to apply for the alliance after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine caused insecurity in Helsinki.

The exercise comes about a month after a pair of B-1 bombers completed successful airstrikes in Iraq and Syria against Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps.

Following that attack, Col. Derek Oakley, the commander of the 28th Bomb Wing unit, said “Once again, the Raiders of Ellsworth have validated our ability to conduct long-range precision strikes and provide global reach for America.”

The B-1s pretended to be adversaries during the exercises. By: U.S. Air Force

Earlier this week, the U.S. military recalled the USS Bataan and 4,000 troops from the Middle East as the Navy adjusts to the reality that the war in Gaza appears to be a protracted conflict.

Additionally, the U.S. Army said it would cut 24,000 open posts as it adjusts its personnel to fight future wars. The military branch is transitioning away from the counterinsurgency wars of the post-9/11 era and into the nation-state conflicts that most experts believe will define the coming decades.