Two B-1B Lancer bombers, assigned to the 7th Bombardment Wing from Dyess Air Force Base in Texas, performed a low-flying flight over Sarajevo as a sign of the strong partnership between the United States of America (USA) and the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina (OSBiH) and their continued commitment to sovereignty, territorial integrity and multi-ethnic character of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Michael J. Murphy, Ambassador of the United States of America to Bosnia and Herzegovina, said that he is proud that they continue to strengthen the partnership with Bosnia and Herzegovina.
“Today’s joint military event is a demonstration of our permanent partnership with the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina and our firm commitment to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina,” said Murphy.
He pointed out that American support to the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina is indestructible and was built through many years of close cooperation.
“For 20 years, the armed forces of our countries, within the framework of cooperation on the principle of ‘army-to-army’, have maintained an extraordinary and solid relationship. The United States of America continues to provide assistance in the modernization of the BiH Armed Forces so that they contribute to security at the regional and global level. Today’s overflight of bombers that will to continue on the way to Tuzla for the purpose of joint training and to fly over several other cities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as far as weather conditions allow, such as Zenica, Jajce and Banja Luka, is an example of advanced cooperation on the principle of “army-to-army” between our two countries, with a common commitment peace and security in the Western Balkans and throughout Europe,” Murphy added.
Today’s event was also attended by the Minister of Defense of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Zukan Helez, who said that this event is the result of long-term bilateral cooperation between the USA and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
“This was a type of training where our Armed Forces were on a very high task, and where they used the most modern American aircraft. Our Armed Forces showed that they can perform the most modern and complex tasks from the NATO alliance,” Helez said.
He believes that “the USA is our key foreign political and military ally”.
“For this year, we have signed bilateral cooperation and there are 101 events of a similar character as this one today,” Helez added.
He also touched on certain statements related to today’s event.
“The statements of certain officials, for me, that is politics, it has nothing to do with reality. Every day we are closer to the NATO alliance, no one can stop that. Bosnia and Herzegovina has a desire, I am sure that more than three quarters of the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina want to join the NATO alliance,” Helez added.
Member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Željko Komšić attended today’s event above Sarajevo.
“This represents one compensation for what the Armed Forces do not have. The Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina do not have airplanes, they do not have so-called fixed wings, and it is good to know that at certain times you have someone you can call and can be guided by our soldiers. Of course, if not let’s avoid that, the overflight of these two strategic bombers also has a political message. The political message is that the United States of America is actually always there and that it stands behind Bosnia and Herzegovina, which, if we’re being honest, at this moment and in this place, is good to know”, said Komšić.
The Chief of the Joint Staff of the Armed Forces of BiH, Lieutenant General Senad Mašović, said that today we had the opportunity to see part of the joint activities carried out by the Armed Forces of BiH with the US Army.
“For many years, the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina have had an extraordinary bilateral and practical ‘army-army’ cooperation that takes place through various forms of joint cooperation, training, but also joint participation in peacekeeping missions around the world. Today you had the opportunity to see that our controllers and navigators are close air support, together with members of the special units of the US army, directly guide and manage the strategic bombers,” explained Mašović.
The bombers flew over Sarajevo, but those two B-1B bombers, weather permitting, will be seen all over the country.
In addition to this event, the aircraft will also participate in a joint military event in the vicinity of Tuzla, which will include the engagement of the Joint Tactical Air Control of the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Special Forces of the US Army.
This event is a natural continuation of advanced bilateral military-to-military exercises.
B-1B bombers are stationed at RAF Fairford, United Kingdom, as part of the latest cycle of the Bomber Task Force.
Missions within this operation allow airmen to continuously conduct emergency operations around the world to maintain global stability and security, while allowing units to familiarize themselves with operations in various regions.
The B-1B is a long-range heavy bomber capable of carrying the largest conventional payload of guided and unguided missiles of any aircraft in the Air Force. The multirole B-1B is the backbone of America’s long-range forces.
It is capable of using large amounts of precision and non-precision weapons against any enemy.
