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Australia will host up to three United States Air Force (USAF) B-52 Stratofortress strategic bombers in Darwin as part of Enhanced Air Cooperation (EAC) initiative with the US.
The aircraft will take part in training activities with the Australian Defence Force from late March through to early April and will build on training activities already carried out between the US and Australia.
In November 2011, the Australian and US governments announced a broad concept for increased defence co-operation in Australia under the US Force Posture Initiatives. The initiatives comprise of annual deployments of US Marine Corps personnel and the EAC activities in Australia.
The USAF B-52 Bombers, from Pacific Air Force’s Andersen Air Force base in Guam, will train with Australia's F/A-18A Hornets and PC-9 aircraft as well as ADF Joint Terminal Attack Controllers in designated military airspace near RAAF Williamtown.
Defence said the training will provide the ADF with a valuable opportunity to integrate Royal Australian Air Force aircraft and ADF personnel with USAF B-52 Bombers in close air support scenarios.
EAC training exercises are designed to increase the ability of Australian and US air forces to operate together and to enhance security co-operation in the region.
RAAF Base Darwin has previously hosted USAF B-52 Bombers that took part in ADF training exercises in 2012, 2014 and 2016.
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