American B-52s conducted exercises with Turkey, dropping inert weapons as part of the Spartan Sword mission

 

American B-52 bombers take off from England to "bomb" Turkey

Two U.S. Air Force B-52H Stratofortress bombers assigned to the 69th Expeditionary Bomber Squadron at Fairford Royal Air Force Base, England, completed the Spartan Sword Bomber Task Force (BTF) mission, demonstrating the "combined strength and interoperability" of NATO.                     

The strategic bombers were escorted by F-16 fighters of the Turkish Air Force, after which they dropped inert weapons in coordination with the Joint Ground Attack Control Centers of the United States and Turkey (JTAC) about 150 miles northwest of the Incirlik air Base in Turkey.