US Air Force bombers operating from the eastern Mediterranean are capable of employing an extraordinary amount of combat power throughout the region.

Long-range, strategic US bombers regularly deploy in Europe as part of Bomber Task Force (BTF) missions for "strengthening deterrence and promoting peace and stability," according to the Air Force.

US bombers have been deployed previously to countries including the United Kingdom, Spain, Romania and Sweden, with bombers based in the United States also capable of reaching the eastern Mediterranean via aerial refueling.

The bomber fleet includes roughly 140 active long-range aircraft, including B-52H Stratofortresses, B-2A Spirit and B-1B Lancers. All three can be refueled midair to extend their range.

The US Air Force maintains the world's largest tanker fleet with an estimated 450-500 sole-purpose refueling tankers.

From the eastern Mediterranean, the bombers have access to the Middle East though allies including Egypt, Israel and Türkiye.

On February 20, two B-52s from RAF Fairford in the United Kingdom flew across six partner countries in the Middle East as part of a pair of BTF missions.

An earlier mission conducted February 18 saw another two B-52s flying from RAF Fairford through nine partner nations in the region.

Agile Combat Employment

The US Air Force in recent years has expanded the forward basing of its strategic bomber forces as part of its Agile Combat Employment (ACE) concept.

The BTF deployment model has evolved as a means to forward deploy a tailor-built task force of bombers in a Geographic Combatant Command (GCC) -- such as CENTCOM or US European Command (EUCOM).

This is designed to serve each commander's unique priorities.

Broadened forward basing means that US Air Force bombers can strike rapidly and deftly respond to emerging threats and situations.

The ACE concept prizes a flexible, forward-based force of aircraft, focusing on dispersed cluster bases instead of conventional, large military installations.

Dispersal complicates adversary planning capabilities, as adversary forces struggle to predict the location from which strikes and responses might originate, or where resources are concentrated.

By leveraging ACE, the US Air Force can spread bases, personnel and aircraft across a range of forward operating locations.

If necessary, the US Air Force can rapidly deploy up to 20 bombers or employ ACE to quickly rearm and refuel bombers for conducting multiple strikes.