Strengthening Arctic Defense: Trilateral exercise tests fifth-generation air power

A B-52H Stratofortress assigned to the 20th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron taxis the runway at RAF Fairford, England, prior to taking off for Exercise Apex Buccaneer, Dec. 3, 2024. APEX BUCCANEER is a Norwegian-led trilateral exercise in the High North that showcases integrated operations with U.S., U.K., and Norwegian forces integrating advanced air, land, and naval capabilities.

Strengthening Arctic Defense: Trilateral exercise tests fifth-generation air power

U.S. Air Force F-35 Lightning II’s from the 57th Wing, Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, and 48th Fighter Wing, Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, fly alongside a KC-135 Stratotanker from the 100th Air Refueling Wing, RAF Mildenhall, England, during a Trilateral Bomber Task Force support mission over the North Sea, Dec. 3, 2024. BTF missions demonstrate the credibility of U.S. forces to address a global security environment that is more diverse and uncertain than at any other time in recent history.

Strengthening Arctic Defense: Trilateral exercise tests fifth-generation air power

A U.S. Air Force F-35 Lightning II approaches a KC-135 Stratotanker from the 100th Air Refueling Wing, Royal Air Force Mildenhall, England, during a Trilateral Bomber Task Force support mission over the North Sea, Dec. 3, 2024. BTF missions enhance combat readiness amongst participating NATO allies and partner nations, ensuring their ability to rapidly respond to emerging threats.

Strengthening Arctic Defense: Trilateral exercise tests fifth-generation air power

Published Dec. 4, 2024
By U.S. Air Forces in Europe - Air Forces Africa Public Affairs

RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany --

Norwegian, U.K. and U.S. forces conducted a multi-domain find, fix, track and target military exercise with fifth-generation aircraft Dec. 3 in the High North.

The Norwegian-led trilateral exercise bolstered Arctic defense and enhanced NATO interoperability as integrated multi-domain assets worked together to drop live-weapons on targets.

The air assets included Norwegian F-35 Lightning IIs and P-8 Poseidon aircraft, U.K. F-35 Lightning IIs and Eurofighter Typhoons, a U.K. RC-135 Rivet Joint reconnaissance aircraft, and U.S. B-52 Stratofortress bombers, KC-135 Stratotankers, a U-2 Dragon Lady and F-35 Lightning IIs.

The Royal Norwegian Air Force, Army, Navy and Special Forces participated in the exercise.

“Multi-domain integration is essential for leveraging the full spectrum of capabilities,” said Gen. James Hecker, U.S. Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa commander. “It creates a more adaptable, resilient and precise military force capable of addressing diverse and evolving threats across the battlespace.”

A major objective of the exercise challenged participating Allied forces to work together to execute live-weapon drops in Norway on targets which simulated enemy positions. Norwegian joint terminal attack controllers directed the payloads onto targets from their positions on the ground.

“This training event demonstrates the ability of the Norwegian Armed Forces to integrate with and leverage cutting-edge capabilities provided by the U.K. and U.S. in multi-domain operations,” said Brig. Gen. Tron Strand, commander of Joint Air Operations Center in Norway. “In addition, the event provides an opportunity to develop, exercise and integrate our air command and control capability, to include F2T2, with close Allies. Together we are a credible deterrent, and if required, we are ready to defend the Arctic region.

F2T2 is a military targeting method used to effectively identify, engage and neutralize targets in combat operations commonly associated with ISR and precision-strike missions. The trilateral exercise allowed for the seamless integration of the F-35 data-sharing capabilities, as pilots from all three nations exchanged real-time tactical information, creating a unified air picture and demonstrated the aircraft’s ability to operate as a force multiplier.

Royal Air Force F-35 Lightning II, Eurofighter Typhoon and RC-135 Rivet Joint aircraft collaborated with their U.S. and Norwegian counterparts to share data and overcome the simulated threat posed in this exercise. NATO air forces routinely exercise together over host nations or neighbouring international waters to integrate their tactics, techniques and procedures, and strengthen the alliance’s ability to operate together if the need arises.

“Interoperability is vital to the defense of NATO’s northern flank,” said Group Captain Hannah Bishop, head of operational plans for the Royal Air Force. “This exercise has demonstrated important enduring strengths of our alliance: our ability to understand how each other operates, to share critical information quickly, and to work seamlessly with each other.”

The Royal Air Force and Royal Norwegian Air Force also form part of the Joint Expeditionary Force which, along with eight other northern European countries, provides a pool of ready, adaptable forces that can rapidly respond together either at home or around the world.

A Voyager from RAF Brize Norton provided air-to-air refuelling in the Norwegian Sea, ensuring RAF aircraft did not have to land to refuel, allowing aircraft to stay airborne longer.

“The Arctic is a critical region for our collective security and global stability,” Hecker said. “Training with our Norwegian and U.K. Allies in this environment demonstrates our shared commitment to defending NATO’s northern flank and adapting to emerging threats. Fifth-generation platforms are pivotal to maintaining air superiority in contested spaces, and exercises like this showcase their unmatched capability.”

(Editor’s note: Norwegian Joint Headquarters, Air Command Headquarters and U.S. Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa Public Affairs contributed to this article.)