The Dubai Airshow, which runs through Thursday, has seen a large contingent of US Air Force planes—including several demonstration flights.

In recent weeks, United States Air Force bombers, including the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress and the Rockwell B-1B Lancer, have conducted patrols in the Caribbean Sea near Venezuela’s territorial waters. This week, another B-52 from the 2nd Bomb Wing, Barksdale Air Force Base (AFB), Louisiana, was flying over the skies of the Middle East, passing over Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE). That B-52 had been deployed to Morón Air Base, Spain, earlier this month as part of the Air Force’s latest NATO Bomber Task Force (BTF) Europe mission.

In addition to the Stratofortress, an Air Force Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II, and an F-16 Fighting Falcon—joined by a United States Navy P-8 Poseidon—were also deployed to the UAE this week. However, while the flights in the Caribbean were part of Washington’s saber-rattling campaign directed at Caracas, the B-52 and other American aircraft were flying for a more cheerful purpose: in an aerial demonstration at the Dubai Airshow 2025.

“The displays highlighted the United States’ commitment to regional security and underscored the unmatched capabilities of American air power,” the United States Air Force Central announced in a press release on Tuesday.

The presence of the US Air Force strategic bomber was meant to serve as a “powerful reminder of America’s unwavering commitment to its allies and its ability to deter potential adversaries.”

Dubai’s Russian-American Fifth-Gen Fighter Jet Showdown

The US Air Force’s fifth-generation F-35 multirole stealth fighter took part in an aerial demonstration. The aircraft was operated by the service’s F-35 demonstration team, 388th Fighter Wing at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, which was “specially trained to showcase the maximum performance of this aircraft.”

The Dubai Airshow 2025 may be just the second time the Lightning II has appeared at such an event, alongside the Russian Sukhoi Su-57E (NATO reporting name “Felon”). The export model of the Russian-made fifth-generation fighter made its first flight demonstration at the air show on Monday.

The Air Force Is Showing Off Its Airpower—and Attracting Customers

The F-16 Demonstration Team’s Maj. Taylor ‘FEMA’ Hiester, 20th Fighter Wing at Shaw AFB, South Carolina, also flew to the Middle East to highlight the capabilities of the famed “Viper,” including in high-G turns with nearly the entire flight using the full afterburner.

“The demonstration wasn’t for cheap thrills, as the F-16 production line is still active and a popular platform in foreign military sales,” the Air Force explained, noting that the Fighting Falcon is now operated by eight partners in the US Central Command’s (CENTCOM’s) area of responsibility (AOR).

The US presence at the Dubai Airshow 2025 concluded with a flyover of the P-8 Poseidon, the maritime patrol aircraft based on the Boeing 737 airliner. The multi-mission maritime patrol aircraft was designed for anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare, shipping interdiction, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, and search and rescue missions. The P-8 can conduct low-altitude missions and has logged more than 400,000 mishap-free flight hours worldwide. It can operate over the open ocean as well as in littoral waters with a relatively small crew of a pilot, co-pilot, two naval flight officers, and three enlisted Aviation Warfare Operators/naval aircrewmen.

“Our presence at Dubai is more than just an air show,” said Lt. Gen. Derek France, 9th Air Force (Air Forces Central) commander. “We are showcasing our professionalism, training, and lethality on a world stage in plain view. The message we are sending is clear, peace through strength. We along with our partners are committed to regional stability, and we are equipped, trained and ready to sustain stability and reinforce security.”

The Dubai Airshow runs until Thursday.

About the Author: Peter Suciu

Peter Suciu has contributed over 3,200 published pieces to more than four dozen magazines and websites over a 30-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a contributing writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. He is based in Michigan. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: Editor@nationalinterest.org.

Image: Shutterstock / A Periam Photography.

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