Maj. Dylan Flynn and Capt. Jeff Weingast, F-16 Fighting Falcon pilots assigned to the 18th Fighter Interceptor Squadron from Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, taxi their aircraft on the flightline during Operation NOBLE DEFENDER at Pittufik Space Base, Greenland, Jan. 31, 2025. Operation NOBLE DEFENDER is an air defense operation under the direction of the North American Aerospace Defense Command designed to demonstrate the command’s ability to defend the approaches of North America from current and future threats while integrating across domains with partners and allies. NORAD routinely conducts sustained, dispersed operations in defense of North America through one or all three NORAD regions, include Alaska, Canada and the continental U.S. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Christopher Ruano)
Audio of this article is brought to you by the Air & Space Forces Association, honoring and supporting our Airmen, Guardians, and their families. Find out more at afa.org
Airmen from across North American Aerospace Defense Command deployed with fighters, tankers, and more to Pituffik Space Base in Greenland in recent weeks for a bitterly cold exercise.
From Jan. 28 to Feb. 11, more than 125 personnel participated in Operation Noble Defender, braving subfreezing temperatures that got as low as -29 degrees Fahrenheit with a wind chill of -56 degrees, according to a release.
NORAD noted in its release that the exercise brought together personnel and aircraft from all three of its regions: Alaska, Canada, and the continental U.S. Participating aircraft included F-16s, KC-135s, and E-3s from the U.S. Air Force, as well as CF-18s, C-150s and CH-149s from the Royal Canadian Air Force.
“Over the last three weeks, our integrated American and Canadian NORAD teams have demonstrated the ability to operate at the highest level in one of the most austere environments in the world,” said Lt. Col. Matthew Shemo, commander of the 41st Air Expeditionary Group. “I am immensely proud of them and their dedication to this mission and appreciate the close cooperation from the Kingdom of Denmark as we train for the defense of Canada and the United States across all domains.”
According to released images, the F-16s came from the 18th Fighter Interceptor Squadron out of Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, and the KC-135s from the 50th Air Refueling Squadron at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla.
The point of the exercise is to demonstrate and work on NORAD’s “ability to defend the approaches of North America from current and future threats, maintain mission readiness in diverse and challenging environments, and to preserve capacity for follow-on operations,” the command release stated.
NORAD previously announced the F-16s had deployed to Greenland the same day as U.S. Air Force F-35s and Royal Canadian Air Force CF-18s conducted combat air patrols in response to Russian military aircraft operating in the Arctic. F-35s also deployed to Greenland for the 2023 edition of Noble Defender.
The exercise comes as experts and U.S. military officials have warned that Russia remains interested in the so-called GIUK gap—the region including Greenland, Iceland, and the United Kingdom. NORAD boss Gen. Gregory M. Guillot said in March 2024 that Russian bombers flew through the region for the first time in years. President Donald Trump has also emphasized the strategic importance of Greenland, saying he would like to acquire the self-governing territory from Denmark.
Audio of this article is brought to you by the Air & Space Forces Association, honoring and supporting our Airmen, Guardians, and their families. Find out more at afa.org
The Air Force recently tested its “Angry Kitten” electronic warfare pod on an HC-130J during Exercise Bamboo Shield, showing the pod can turn the rescue platform into a command-and-control node and protect it from enemy radars.
The Air Force put its semi-autonomous Collaborative Combat Aircraft in the hands of operators, not just engineers or test pilots, for a groundbreaking exercise last week.
U.S. Air Force and Navy fighter jets are playing a prominent role in patrolling for threats as part of the U.S. naval blockade of Iran, people familiar with the matter told Air & Space Forces Magazine.
The final class of new A-10C Thunderbolt II pilots graduated from training this month, signaling another step in the Air Force’s goal of retiring the venerable close air support aircraft in the coming years.
The Air Force released new photos of the B-21 Raider conducting aerial refueling tests with a KC-135 Stratotanker—confirming a key milestone in the new long-range strike bomber’s development and offering a rare glimpse of the secretive aircraft’s features.
Chinese media outlets are attempting to dismiss the U.S. Air Force’s planned sixth-generation fighter jet, the F-47, by criticizing the cost, downplaying the technology, and reporting that the U.S. won’t be able to effectively produce the air dominance platform.
The Air Force is asking for a 21 percent increase in its Active-Duty operations and maintenance budget in fiscal 2027, which would help fund a big boost in spending on flying hours.
National Guard adjutants general from nearly two dozen states have signed a letter to Congress seeking multiyear funding for the Air Force to purchase between 72 and 100 new fighter jets per year to modernize the total force.The letter, sent to Congress last week, stresses the need for the Air…
✓
Thank You!
Check your inbox to verify your email address and finish setting up your AFA account.
★
Welcome Back!
An account with this email already exists. Please log in to continue.
Subscribe to the Air & Space Forces Daily Report
The latest news from Air & Space Forces Magazine, as well as news from other leading publications, delivered right to your inbox every morning!
We’re sorry, there has been an error. Please review your input or try again later.
