The US Air Force in recent years has expanded the forward basing of its strategic bomber forces, further advancing the service's adoption of Agile Combat Employment (ACE).

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.

It focuses on dispersed cluster bases instead of conventional, large military installations.

Dispersal complicates adversary planning capabilities as adversary forces struggle to predict from where 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.

Forward basing in particular enables the Air Force to leverage the assets and capabilities of a host nation and foster interoperability with security partners.

Most recently, the US Air Force on November 2 announced that it had deployed B-52 bombers in the Middle East, the first time that the bombers have deployed to a base in the region since 2019.

The deployment included six B-52s, a squadron of F-15E Strike Eagles, and aerial refueling tankers, US officials told Air & Space Forces Magazine.

"Should Iran, its partners, or its proxies use this moment to target American personnel or interests in the region, the United States will take every measure necessary to defend our people," Pentagon spokesman Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said in a statement on the deployment.

Forward basing in action

The United States has long used forward-based bombers to support a range of operations.

The US Air Force's bomber fleet includes the B-52 Stratofortress, B-1B Lancer and B-2 Spirit.

In 2016, the US Air Force operated a fleet of B-52s from a base in Qatar to support operations against the "Islamic State of Iraq and Syria" (ISIS).

In recent years, the service has expanded its bomber fleet's global footprint by forward basing at a broad range of locations.

In August, two B-2 Spirits deployed to Keflavik Air Base in Iceland for Bomber Task Force operations alongside NATO allies, and two B-52s completed a first-ever deployment to Mihail Kogălniceanu Air Base in Romania in July.

NATO announced in May that four B-52s were deployed to the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force Fairford base to bolster the ability of NATO-allied forces to train together and to further interoperability and cooperation.

The US Air Force also forward deployed two B-1B Lancers to Incirlik Air Base in Türkiye in April. Two other B-1Bs were sent to Morón Air Base in Spain just a month prior.