U.S. B-1B Lancers, from the 7th Bomb Wing, Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, flew their first Bomber Task Force mission of this deployment in and around the Norwegian Sea, Feb. 26, 2021. Two B-1s conducted tactical integration with a Norwegian F-35 and Norwegian naval assets in the Norwegian Sea.
Department of Defense cooperation with allies and partners in the Arctic strengthens our shared approach to regional security and helps deter strategic competitors from seeking to unilaterally change the existing rules-based order.
“It’s fitting we got to kick this BTF off with a mission that highlights our ability to integrate with our Norwegian allies across multiple domains,” said Gen. Jeff Harrigian, U.S. Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa commander. “This type of interoperability is especially critical in the Arctic where no one nation has the infrastructure or capacity to operate alone.”
Bomber Task Force missions demonstrate U.S. commitment to the collective defense of NATO and contribute to stability in the European theater. Our ability to quickly respond and assure allies and partners rests upon the fact that we are here, in Europe, forward and ready.
US Air Force B-1B Lancer strategic bombers belonging to the 7th Bomb Wing at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, arrived at Ørland Air Station in Norway for a long-planned training mission to conduct training in the European theater and with partners and allies throughout Europe. This is the first time that US strategic bombers have operated from Norway.
Since 2018, US strategic bomber missions have provided aircrews with theater familiarization for members and the opportunity for US integration with NATO allies and regional partners.
US Air Force personnel training will encompass a variety of areas ranging from operating in the far north to improving interoperability with allies and partners across the European theater, let’s first think right with Norwegian F-35s, which in the meantime have just deployed in Iceland to protect the airspace of the European country and NATO. The deployment will therefore integrate fifth generation fighters with us strategic bombers, showing the allies’ progress in defense technology, capabilities and interoperability.