KADENA AIR BASE, Japan -- A U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress assigned to the 69th Bomb Squadron, Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, conducts aerial refueling with a KC-135 Stratotanker assigned to the 909th Air Refueling Squadron during a Bomber Task Force mission over the Pacific Ocean, Dec. 16, 2024. Bomber missions contribute to joint force lethality and deter aggression in the Indo-Pacific region by demonstrating the U.S. Air Force’s ability to operate anywhere in the world at any time. The U.S. remains committed to peace and prosperity throughout the Indo-Pacific region alongside our Japanese allies, together acting as the cornerstone of regional peace and security and presenting an ironclad defense of Japan.