Some great photos of B-52Hs of the 23rd Bomb Squadron "Barons" in the skies over Egypt as part of the multinational exercise "Bright Star 87" in August 1987. They came all the way from Minot AFB, North Dakota on a 15.000 miles trip and conducted bombing raids on a improvized airfield, constructed for training purposes in the Egyptian desert. Such missions demonstrated in a impressive way SACs capabilities to conduct such non stop long range raids against targets all around the world. Something which became just few years after "Bright Star 87" reality, as B-52`s conducted non stop bombing missions from the US against targets in Iraq, as part of the aerial campaign of "Desert Storm" in 1991.
The "Bright Star" exercises evolved in 1979/80 from the major changes in Egyptian politics towards Israel and the US. The Camp David Accords of 1978, which led to a first real peace treaty between the two nations in 1979 created also a new base for the relations between the US and Egypt. From 1980 on Egypt became to a new important strategic ally for the US in the region. A fact which led to the first major deliveries of modern US arms, equipment and technology to the country. The first Joint US-Egyptian exercise, "Bright Star 80`" was held in 1980. From 1981 on the exercises were also opened for friendly and Allied nations in the region or NATO member states. Sudan, Somalia or Jordan participated for example during the 1980s, same with Great Britain. "Bright Star" is still an actual and important military exercise in the region with the last held in 2025 in Egypt.
