Two B-52Hs from Minot AFB heading East disappeared from tracking radars as they crossed into Canadian airspace over Lake Superior. Another Middle East mission? Both aircraft (60-0026 and 61-0006) are among the 46 B-52Hs that are nuclear-capable. ImageImage
One of them briefly reappeared on the radar north of Ottawa heading south toward US border. So this appears to be part of an exercise over North America. There has been some amazing tanker operations tonight. Image
And there they are, heading out over the water north of Boston. Image
Time for a drink. Seems like they’re meeting up with two tankers over the Gulf of Maine. Image
Turns out my suspecion was right after all. The two B-52Hs (60-0026, 61-0006) are on their way to the Middle East. Route same as B-52s 11 days ago : First into Baltic, then down over Eastern Europe to Missile East. Probably joining other B-52s in Qatar. Image
Ha, “Missile East.” That should of course be Middle East. Good pun, though! 😄
Passing over western Crete right now. Image
Hard left turn over Crete, heading straight east. Will probably pass over Israel, Jordan, Saudi Arabia into Qatar. As I mentioned earlier, these two (60-0026 and 61-0006) are nuclear-capable types, but not carrying any nukes. Image

• • •

Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to force a refresh
 

Keep Current with Hans Kristensen

Hans Kristensen Profile picture

Stay in touch and get notified when new unrolls are available from this author!

Read all threads

This Thread may be Removed Anytime!

PDF

Twitter may remove this content at anytime! Save it as PDF for later use!

Try unrolling a thread yourself!

how to unroll video
  1. Follow @ThreadReaderApp to mention us!

  2. From a Twitter thread mention us with a keyword "unroll"
@threadreaderapp unroll

Practice here first or read more on our help page!

More from @nukestrat

6 May
1/n Wow: New report from @USGAO concludes: "every nuclear triad replacement program - including the B-21, LRSO, GBSD, and Columbia class submarine, and every ongoing bomb and warhead modernization program- faces the prospect of delays…” gao.gov/assets/gao-21-… Image
@USGAO 2/n These risks are not just about existing systems getting old but also about DOD/DOE planning overly aggressive timelines, workload from several concurring systems, and immature technologies.
3/n Check this out: Because of a requirement to have 400 ICBMs on alert, the Air Force "will be largely constrained to fielding GBSD into the 50 launch facilities with silos that are maintained empty” under New START!
Read 16 tweets
1 Sep 20
The Pentagon’s 2020 report on Chinese military affairs is out. Here is the analysis by @mattkorda and yours truly:

The Pentagon’s 2020 China Report
fas.org/blogs/security…
@mattkorda One of the most surprising bits is the statement that "China probably maintains an operational nuclear warhead stockpile in the low-200s.” That’s less than the 290 we had at the end of 2019 (the data point for the DOD report). Possible reason: the term “operational."
Another surprise is 200 DF-26 IRBMs. Thast’s up from 80 last year! How is that even possible? Doesn’t fit the visible force structure. @dex_eve will have more to say about that.
Read 6 tweets
18 Jul 20
Why are people who have been fighting arms control for decades suddenly so eager to advocate it?

This “thoughtful article” praised by Billingslea proposes to ban mobile ICBMs. That would eliminate 80% of Chinese and 60% of Russian ICBMs. US doesn’t have mobile ICBMs.

Oh, I see!
Don’t get me wrong, the article raises many important issues that a future treaty would have to consider. But in comparing START and New START verfication, the article skips over the W Bush administration’s 2002 Moscow Treaty, which did not have a verification regime.
The point that New START does not cover non-deployed warheads is of course relevant, but neither did START. In fact, it was under START that the US developed its “hedge” of what was later called the “responsive stockpile” of non-deployed warheads that could be uploaded.
Read 4 tweets
28 Feb 20
The Pentagon has published the Nuclear Matters Handbook 2020 acq.osd.mil/ncbdp/nm/nmhb/…

An extraordinary resource. Kudos for continuing this document! @DeptofDefense
@DeptofDefense Unlike previous versions, the 2020 Nuclear Matters Handbook is healy colored by Trump's Nuclear Posture Review. Among other things, the Handbook declares the era of "sustainment of Cold War legacy deterrent in the absence of underground nuclear testing” to be over.
@DeptofDefense Also significant changes in modernization programs for the United States compared with the 2018 Nuclear Posture Review.

Also curious omissions/additions to Russia and China.
Read 9 tweets
8 Dec 19
US Denmark ambassador pressured Danish think tank to disinvite Trump critic Stanley Sloan @srs2_ from NATO 70 year celebration. buzzfeednews.com/article/miriam… Ambassador Carla Sands had no displomatic experience when Trump appointed her but she paid handsomely to his election campaign.
.@srs2_ : “I now am told it is a new policy: no speakers to be sponsored by the State Department if they have been critical of the President.”

Dumb decision by @StateDept but totally in line with authoritarian Trump: allegiance over qualifications.
And now the Danish Atlantic Council has announced it is canceling its NATO celebration conference altogether
Read 6 tweets

Did Thread Reader help you today?

Support us! We are indie developers!


This site is made by just two indie developers on a laptop doing marketing, support and development! Read more about the story.

Become a Premium Member ($3/month or $30/year) and get exclusive features!

Become Premium

Too expensive? Make a small donation by buying us coffee ($5) or help with server cost ($10)

Donate via Paypal Become our Patreon

Thank you for your support!

Follow Us on Twitter!