Beltway Confidential

Russia embarrasses NATO and the US Air Force

By Tom Rogan

Published September 1, 2020 12:35pm ET

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Russia embarrasses NATO and the US Air Force — A U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress breaks away from a KC-135 Stratotanker from the 100th Air Refueling Wing, RAF Mildenhall, England, after receiving fuel during a strategic bomber mission, May 7, 2020. Strategic bomber missions enable crews to maintain a high state of readiness and proficiency.

What is going on at NATO’s Allied Air Command?

I ask that question in light of two successful Russian operations against NATO and the U.S. Air Forces in Europe last Friday. In both incidents, Russian navy fighter jets were able to hold U.S. B-52 bombers at risk. In one, Russia was able to successfully penetrate a NATO member state’s sovereign air space and thus also NATO’s air defense network.

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