U.S. B-1Bs Join Hungarian, Swedish Gripens for Low-Level Riga Flypast

NATO billed the display as a public demonstration of allied interoperability.

Overview

Two U.S. Air Force B-1B bombers flew with Hungarian and Swedish JAS-39 Gripens over central Riga on August 19, passing low over the Freedom Monument.
Hungary’s Gripens are operating from Šiauliai, Lithuania, under the Baltic Air Policing mission during the country’s fourth rotation.
The B-1Bs deployed from Dyess Air Force Base in Texas and arrived at Ørland Air Base in Norway on August 9 as part of Bomber Task Force Europe.
Latvian Defence Minister Andris Sprūds said the flyover demonstrated NATO presence, transatlantic unity, and commitment to Baltic security.
NATO said the deployment enables crews to refine tactics, including the find, fix, track, and target process, to strengthen readiness and coordination.