USAF Conducts B-52 Bomber Exercise With ‘Unarmed’ Nuclear Cruise Missiles

Hans Kristensen, a nuclear weapons expert at the Federation of American Scientists, posted on X that the United States Air Force conducted a “nuclear exercise with B-52 bombers” at Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota this past week. This exercise coincides with a week of soaring tensions in the Middle East. 

Airmen from the 5th Bomb Wing at Minot AFB and the 2nd Bomb Wing at Barksdale AFB (located in Louisiana) participated in Exercise Prairie Vigilance at the air base in North Dakota between April 6 and 12. 

Prairie Vigilance is considered a “routine training mission that enhances the safety, security, and reliability of the bomber leg of the US nuclear triad,” the service wrote in a press release published on the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service website. 

The service continued, “Exercises like Prairie Vigilance enable crews to maintain a high state of readiness and proficiency, while validating the always-ready, global strike capability,” adding, “Team Minot Airmen focus on the safe and secure handling of assets comprising the nuclear triad in order to stay proficient in a variety of key operational skills.” 

Kristensen said this is the third such exercise in six months. He posted images of unarmed nuclear AGM-86B cruise missiles being rolled out to the staging area to be loaded on at least one Boeing B-52 Stratofortress. 

USAF conducts Prairie Vigilance nuclear exercise with B-52 bombers at Minot AFB. https://t.co/gdgpnD3sCf

Watch video as 8 pylons with 48 unarmed nuclear AGM-86B cruise missiles roll out from weapons storage area. https://t.co/DUfNNoKkJp

This is third such ex in six months. pic.twitter.com/ZtkVhEZC4N

— Hans Kristensen (@nukestrat) April 13, 2024

The exercise with unarmed nuclear cruise missiles comes as the White House warned on Friday about the Iranians launching an imminent attack on Israel. 

Late Friday evening, former NATO Supreme Allied Commander Wesley Clark told CNBC that a “direct strike on Israel” by the Iranians could force the Israeli Air Force to target “nuclear assets” in the country. 

Israel reportedly preparing for an imminent attack by Iran this weekend, according to reports.

Former NATO Supreme Allied Commander Wesley Clark predicts that if Iran does something it will be minor. He also runs through the different scenarios. pic.twitter.com/CetrfrDLHn

— CNBC’s Fast Money (@CNBCFastMoney) April 12, 2024

Meanwhile, the F-35A Lightning II stealth jet became operationally certified to be equipped with B61-12 thermonuclear gravity bombs last month. Impeccable timing…