United States
Australia
United Kingdom
Europe
New Zealand
Canada
Two U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancer aircraft performed a flyover during the NATO Days and Czech Air Force Days airshow at Leoš Janáček Ostrava Airport, Czech Republic, on Sept. 19, 2026, underscoring the service’s focus on peace, deterrence, and security across Europe.
“The B-1 flyover at NATO Days in Ostrava is a powerful display of American airpower and a clear demonstration of our deterrence as our Allies continue to make historic investments in European defense,” said U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Jason T. Hinds, commander, U.S. Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa. “I’m grateful to our Czech hosts as family events like this remind us that NATO has always been a defensive Alliance, safeguarding peace.”
Designed with a blended wing-body, swing-wing configuration and turbofan engines, the B-1B is built for long-range, high-speed missions and can deliver large loads of precision and non-precision weapons worldwide.
“Flying the B-1 over Ostrava allows our aircrews to put Allied readiness into practice at the tactical level,” said a U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancer pilot. “Integrating with our Czech Allies sharpens our joint combat readiness and sends a clear unified message of our collective defense and ability to rapidly project decisive airpower in the theater.”
Established in 2001 as a regional showcase for armed forces, police, and rescue services, NATO Days in Ostrava has grown over the past 25 years into one of Europe’s leading security and defense events. It regularly draws up to 200,000 visitors, making it the most attended two-day family and public event in the Czech Republic.
This year’s program included flight demonstrations from 14 nations, static aircraft displays, joint ground-force operations, special forces demonstrations, and exhibits featuring new technology.
As the air component for U.S. European Command and U.S. Africa Command, U.S. Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa operates forward-based airpower and infrastructure to conduct and enable theater and global missions, directing air operations across a region spanning three continents, more than 19 million square miles, and 104 independent states.
