MOSCOW, 11 Feb-RIA Novosti, Andrey Kots. Take aim at the Russian Northern Fleet, strengthen the Scandinavian flank of NATO and designate a military presence in the Arctic-the Pentagon will transfer B-1B Lancer strategic bombers to Norway for the first time. Four aircraft will take up permanent combat duty in February. The vehicles will be stationed at the Orland airfield, where more than 200 American troops will also arrive. The deployment of strategic aviation near the northern borders of Russia is one of the first geopolitical decisions of the administration of US President Joe Biden. What it threatens — in the material of RIA Novosti.
A hundred missiles
Four B-1B strategic bombers are quite a formidable combat force. They were created as carriers of nuclear weapons, but after the end of the cold war, they were converted to conventional weapons. The B-1B has 24 AGM-158 JASSM cruise missiles with a range of up to 360 kilometers and up to 980 kilometers in the JASSM-ER modification with 450-kilogram penetrating warheads. The accuracy of three meters.
A USAF B-1B Lancer bomber flies alongside an Indian Air Force Tejas light multirole aircraft at the Aero India 2021 Air Show in Bangalore, India
Image source: © AP Photo / Aijaz Rahi
Thus, an air strike group with 96 high-precision cruise missiles will concentrate on the northern borders of Russia. It is difficult to resist the B-1B. In these aircraft, the concept of breaking through air defense at ultra-low altitudes with the circumference of the terrain is implemented. In addition, the design uses technologies to reduce radar visibility, which makes the "Lancers"a difficult target for air defense.
The transfer of "strategists" is another demonstration of Washington's readiness to confront Russia in the North. In the fall, it became known that the US Navy is negotiating with the Norwegian government on the deployment of nuclear submarines of the "Seawolf" class at the Olavsvern base. In the event of a positive decision, the Pentagon will be able to constantly monitor the submarines of the Russian Northern Fleet.
And in May 2020, three US Navy destroyers of the Arleigh Burke type, supported by the British frigate Kent, entered the Barents Sea for the first time since the mid-1980s. Formally — for "ensuring safety in difficult natural conditions and maintaining freedom of navigation". In fact, it is to check how Moscow will react to the appearance in the home waters of the Northern Fleet of a ship group capable of firing a salvo of almost a hundred Tomahawks. Now it is the turn of the strategic bombers, who will stay in Norway for a long time.
Thanks to the B-1B, the Americans will be able to strike with high-precision missiles at the most important objects of the North Sea. However, the decisive advantage of four strategic bombers is unlikely to provide — after all, Russia has a powerful air defense in the region. However, Washington will be able to strengthen the air group in Norway. So the Americans are operating in Eastern Europe, since 2014, constantly increasing their military presence near the Russian borders.
Reassure your allies
The transfer of strategic aviation to Norway is not only of geopolitical importance in the framework of the confrontation with Russia. The White House is showing that it is ready to strengthen ties with its allies. It is no secret that Donald Trump has made a split in NATO. He actively criticized the Europeans for their unwillingness to finance the alliance and invest enough in defense.
Especially the US-German relations have deteriorated. Washington has repeatedly accused Berlin of insufficient spending on military needs, and also actively criticized the Nord Stream-2 project. The Germans made no concessions. In response, Trump ordered to reduce the number of troops in Germany to 25 thousand people and partially transfer personnel to Poland. German Chancellor Angela Merkel called it a voluntary renunciation of the US status as a world power. In her opinion, the preservation of the American military presence is in the interests of both states and NATO.
Joe Biden is trying to fix the situation. The other day, the head of the European Command of the US Armed Forces, Tod Walters, said: "The previously planned withdrawal of troops from Germany is frozen. The new administration has informed us of the need for a thorough check, after which we will return to our original positions. Ultimately, the Secretary of Defense, together with the President of the United States, will make the right decision."
Red line
Although the new US administration will continue its policy of expanding NATO and adopt a generally confrontational approach to Russia, there are red lines that Biden, unlike Trump, is not ready to cross. So, in early February, Moscow and Washington announced the extension of the Strategic Offensive Arms Reduction Treaty START-3 until 2026.
Closed missile silos on the Ohio-class submarine USS Wyoming
Image Source: © Photo : Rebecca Rebarich, U.S. Navy
"We hope that the understanding reached with Washington on the fate of the treaty, which is a cornerstone for international security, will help to overcome the tendency that has prevailed in recent years due to the destructive policy of the United States to break down the mechanisms of arms control and non-proliferation," the Russian Foreign Ministry commented. "Significant efforts will be required to return the Russian-American dialogue in this area to a stable trajectory, to achieve new major results that strengthen our national security and strategic stability in the world."
As explained by the Russian Ambassador to the United States Anatoly Antonov, no changes were made to the agreement. Everything will continue according to the control mechanisms agreed upon 11 years ago. As before, mutual inspections are provided for at the military facilities of both countries. At the same time, the diplomat stressed that further cooperation with the United States on arms control will be very difficult — we will also have to discuss new strategic complexes. But Moscow is ready for this.