US B-1s Conducted First Mission from Norway
B-1B Lancers, from the 7th Bomb Wing, Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, flew their first Bomber Task Force mission of their deployment in Norway, Feb. 26. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Richard P. Ebensberger).
The U.S. B-1 Lancers currently deployed to Norway conducted their first mission of the deployment in and around the Barents Sea Friday.
Two U.S. B-1B Lancers currently deployed to Ørland air base in Norway conducted their first Bomber Task Force (BTF) mission of the deployment in and around the Barents Sea on Friday, according to a press release from the U.S. European Command.
The aircrafts conducted tactical integration with Norwegian F-35s and Norwegian naval assets in the eastern Barents 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,” the EUCOM states.
“It’s fitting we got to kick this BTF [Bomber Task Force, journ. note] off with a mission that highlights our ability to integrate with our Norwegian allies across multiple domains. This type of interoperability is especially critical in the Arctic where no one nation has the infrastructure or capacity to operate alone,” said Gen. Jeff Harrigian, U.S. Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa commander.
Four US Air Force B-1 bombers and approximately 200 personnel from Dyess Air Force in Texas are temporarily deployed at Ørland Air Base in Norway to exercise together with Norwegian forces. This is the first time such aircrafts are stationed on Norwegian ground.
