Members of our Task Force 21 got an up-close look at something remarkable at Minot Air Force Base this week: nearly a dozen B-52 Stratofortress aircraft taking off, one after the other.
The "fly-off" was in support of an extensive exercise known as Global Thunder 23. It's held annually to ensure all three legs of the nuclear triad are prepared to deter against military attacks on the United States and our allies at a moment's notice.
Shortly after 8:00 AM on Sunday morning, April 16, a klaxon horn rang out, signaling the men and women of the 5th Bomb Wing to begin the exercise. Within minutes, more than 10 aircraft were rumbling down the runway and taking off.
Here's what Minot Air Force Base officials had to say upon the conclusion of Global Thunder 23:
“The 5th Bomb Wing is comprised of exceptional, mission-focused Airmen, and they absolutely nailed the execution of this exercise,” said Col Daniel Hoadley, 5th Bomb Wing commander. “Strategic deterrence is anchored on a demonstration of credible combat capability, and Global Thunder allowed us to do just that.”
“We always aim to practice the way that we will be expected to perform in combat,” said Hoadley. “To that end, we were able to wring out virtually every aspect of nuclear operations during this year’s Global Thunder. We integrated with the 2nd BW to meet logistical requirements and crush all operations and maintenance tasks inside of tight timelines. Given the complexity of this exercise, the results were confidence building for the entire B-52 team.”
Our team members at the Minot Area Chamber EDC and Task Force 21 feel fortunate that we were invited to witness the readiness of Team Minot!