U.S. B-52s launched JDAM missiles 400 km from the Russian border

By: Maksim Panasovskyi

It was recently reported that the U.S. was moving B-52 Stratofortress strategic bombers to Europe. As it turns out, the planes have already been tested with the Swedish Air Force.

The strategic bombers arrived at a British military airbase and then took part in a joint exercise with the Swedish Air Force. This rattled Russian propaganda, which stated that the B-52s “may well have delivered nuclear weapons to Europe” and “staged a provocation near Russian borders.”

The B-52s carried out several Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) strikes at the Widsel firing range in the northern part of the country. The planes dropped three GBU-31 bombs, successfully destroying ground targets. Yes, the tests took place on Swedish territory, but that did not stop Russian propagandists from calculating that the distance to the Russian border was 400 kilometres and creating a panic about it. It is also worth noting that Sweden has no common border with Russia.

B-52 Stratofortress strategic bombers did not leave Swedish airspace. Besides, during the flight, they were accompanied by Swedish JAS 39 Gripen fighters. The exercise included tests of the joint operation of American and Swedish aircraft in the air before striking ground targets. The Norwegian Air Force also took part in the tests.

Source: Swedish Armed Forces