Six Boeing B-52H Stratofortresses and 300 support personnel from Barksdale AFB in Louisiana have been deployed to Anderson AFB on Guam, marking only the second time the USAF has all three of its heavy bomber types deployed to the forward Pacific theatre island base.

The B-52Hs will replace six B-1B Lancer bombers from Ellsworth AFB which are scheduled to return to the US at the end of January, and three B-2A Spirit ‘stealth’ bombers from Whiteman AFB which have been there since early January.

“US Strategic Command bombers regularly rotate through the Indo-Pacific region to conduct U.S. PACOM-led air operations, providing leaders with deterrent options to maintain regional stability,” a January 17 Pacific Air Forces news release reads.

“During this short-term deployment, the B-2As will conduct local and regional training sorties and will integrate capabilities with key regional partners, ensuring bomber crews maintain a high state of readiness and crew proficiency.

While the B-52Hs and B-2As can employ nuclear and conventional weapons, the B-1Bs are only able to employ conventional weapons.