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Mar 9 • 6 tweets • 3 min read
Two B-52 bombers operating out of Moron AB in Spain are circling over southern Bulgaria. They are 60-0026 (NOBLE41) and 60-0056 (NOBLE42?). Both are nuclear-capable (but not carrying nukes). ImageImage
Interesting that EUCOM announced B-52 deployment as the bombers were on their way. Normally they announce it after.
Looks like Romania is next operating area for the B-52s. Potentially border area with Moldova and Ukraine? #B52 Image
Dang, the B-52s are only about 35 km from the border of Moldova and Ukraine. In 3D mode you can literally see across the border. From here, all Russian forces in Ukraine would be within reach of a load of JASSM-ER cruise missiles. ImageImage
One of the two B-52s (60-0026, NOBLE41) continues operations over southeast Romania. The other B-52 (60-0056, NOBLE42) is heading east over Slovenia. ImageImage
B-52s apparently left their signature on a magnetometer in Bulgaria!

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More from @nukestrat

Hans Kristensen Profile picture
Mar 11
B-52 bomber (60-0026, NOBLE61) currently operating over northern Norway. ImageImage
Mission over norther Norway complete, B-52 (60-0026, NOBLE61) heading south after overfly of Tromsø. Image
Detour to Poland on return flight. B-52 (60-0026, NOBLE61) possibly refueling over Poland. ImageImage
Read 7 tweets
Hans Kristensen Profile picture
Mar 9
Reuters: Australia to buy up to 5 US Virginia-class nuclear-propelled attack submarines in 2030s. Moreover, in addition to annual port visits, by 2027 the US will forward-deploy some submarines in Western Australia (Perth?). reuters.com/business/aeros…

More details later today. Image
I have questions…about US sub building capacity, sale of sensitive technology. Hopefully more clarity after San Diego meeting later today.
Also curious report because earlier Bloomberg report with similar operational details suggested Australian subs would be more of a mix of UK and US parts. bloomberg.com/news/articles/…

Again, wait for more details from San Diego meeting later today. Image
Read 4 tweets
Hans Kristensen Profile picture
Mar 8
1/n - In addition to my earlier tweet thread about the HASC strategic forces hearing today, the prepared testimony from STRATCOM's new commander includes some interesting new and some curious statements. armedservices.house.gov/hearings/strat… Details below in this thread:
2/n - The first is that each silo in 3 new new missile silo fields "can be equipped with the CSS-10 Mod 2 ICBM [DF-31A], which is capable of ranging the continental United States...with...MIRVs."

Neither NASIC nor 2022 DOD report have attributed MIRV to DF-31A.
3/n - The second is "PRC's most modern road-mobile and MIRV-capable ICBM advanced from concept to deployed system in only a few years."

Well (assuming he's taking DF-41], DOD first reported it in 1997, then again in 2012, and first MIRV test in 2018.
Read 7 tweets
Hans Kristensen Profile picture
Mar 8
House Armed Services Committee hearing on US strategic posture is underway. armedservices.house.gov/hearings/strat…

Lambourn immediately shows his simplistic view of nuc strategy: "Now that China has more ICBM launchers than the United States, STRATCOM has more targets to hold at risk."
STRATCOM commander Gen Cotton did not take the bait from Lamborn that more Chinese launchers mean US needs to increase its nuclear arsenal.
Turner tries to use Russian New START to argue for looking at re-MIRVing US ICBMs and also mentions bombers (including B-1).
Read 4 tweets
Hans Kristensen Profile picture
Mar 8
1/n - DNI's Annual Threat Assessment is out. intelligence.senate.gov/sites/default/… (This is the coordinated assessment, not the military one.)

Link to hearing video: intelligence.senate.gov/hearings/open-…
2/n - On reason for China's nuke buildup: Beijing has "concluded that their current capabilities are insufficient [and] worries that bilateral tension, US nuclear modernization, and the PLA’s advancing conventional capabilities have increased the likelihood of a US first strike."
3/n - On Russia, report says degrade of ground/air conv wpns in Ukraine war has "increased its reliance on nuclear weapons." Russia is "expanding and modernizing its large, diverse, and modern set of nonstrategic systems."
Doesn't necessarily mean nuke for them also increasing.
Read 5 tweets
Hans Kristensen Profile picture
Mar 6
Two B-52 bombers currently conducting ground targeting training over Denmark. 60-0026 (NOBLE12) and 60-0056 (NOBLE11). The B-52s are 2 of 4 on Bomber Task Force deployment to Moron AB in Spain. Here’s tweet from similar exercise last year:

#B52 ImageImage
After Denmark, the two B-52 bombers are heading east over the Baltic Sea and turning southeast over Poland for a display of force and training in the region. The two aircraft 60-0026 (NOBLE12) and 60-0056 (NOBLE11) are both nuclear-capable, but not carrying nukes. Image
The B-52 operations over Europe are taking place as other B-52s are operating over Northeast Asia.
Read 6 tweets

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