Washington. February 28. INTERFAX - An American military aircraft E-6B Mercury, designed to communicate with strategic nuclear submarines with intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMS), has arrived in Iceland, the European Command of the US Armed Forces announced on Tuesday.
"The E-6B Mercury, assigned to the 1st Air Wing of the United States Strategic Command, recently arrived in Iceland during operations in the area of responsibility of the European Command," the report says.
The aircraft is used as an air command post of the Strategic Command of the US Armed Forces. It is equipped with an automated intercontinental ballistic missile launch control system, performs tasks to provide a backup communication system with strategic Ohio-class nuclear submarines on combat patrol.
Currently, there are 14 Ohio-class strategic submarines in the American nuclear triad, each of which is capable of carrying 20 Trident II D5 intercontinental ballistic missiles. Eight submarines are located in the Pacific Ocean and six in the Atlantic. In the Pacific Ocean, they are consolidated into the 9th group of submarines based in Kitsap Bangor (Washington State), in the Atlantic it is the 10th group of submarines based in Kings Bay (Georgia).
Last Friday, the US Air Force Command in Europe reported that a group of four B-52 Stratofortress strategic bombers arrived at the Moron Air Base in Spain.
Bombers capable of carrying nuclear weapons from the 5th Air Wing from Minot Base, North Dakota, were transferred to Europe "to cooperate and strengthen relations with allies and NATO partners," the report said.
According to the US military, before arriving at the Moron Air Base in Spain last Friday, two B-52 strategic bombers flew over Estonia after a transatlantic flight as part of the events dedicated to its independence Day. The low-altitude flight took place over Freedom Square in Tallinn during the parade in honor of the state holiday.
"The missions of operational bomber groups are routine operations that are carried out around the world in order to demonstrate the US commitment to collective defense, as well as integration with allies and partners," the command stressed.
