THE United States Air Force will put its aging fleet of nuclear-capable B-52 bombers on 24-hour alert for the first time since the end of the Cold War, according to its chief of staff.
Amid rising tensions with North Korea and a resurgent Putin-led Russia, General David Goldfein told Defense One that the strategic bomber force will be ready at a day’s notice for the first time in 26 years.
Adapting to the ‘reality of the global situation’, Goldfein’s order would see B-52s readied at Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana and armed with nuclear weapons – something not seen since 1991.
Indeed, Barksdale – the home of the 2D Bomb Wing and Air Force Global Strike Command – is currently being refurbished in anticipation of the change in defense posture to allow the bombers to ‘take off at a moment’s notice’.
According to Daily Mail, this is the latest defensive move from the US military, matching the bellicose threats that President Trump has posted on Twitter, putting North Korea, Iran, and other American enemies on notice he will use the might of the armed forces.
This comes after Donald Trump met with top military chiefs on October 6, and made a comment about ‘calm before the storm.’
Speaking of Defense One, General Goldfein emphasized that orders haven’t been given yet, but that they are preparing the bases in the event that it should happen.
‘This is yet one more step in ensuring that we’re prepared,’ General Goldfein explained.
‘I look at it more as not planning for any specific event, but more for the reality of the global situation we find ourselves in and how we ensure we’re prepared going forward.’
Were things to escalate, the decision to fire would be made by General John Hyten, commander of Strategic Command, or General Lori Robinson, head of Northern Command.
Readying the B-52s is just one of many decisions facing the Air Force as North Korea continues to advance its nuclear arsenal.
Kim Jong-un’s rhetoric has grown more confrontational by the day – following his first threat to wipe the United States off the earth in early April.
So in addition to President Trump’s confrontational rebuttals and Russia’s increasingly confident armed forces, General Goldfein said it’s best to be prepared.
