F-35s, F-16s Rapidly Deploy to Greenland for Exercise

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NORAD surged two F-35s, two F-16s, and a trio of KC-135s to Pituffik Space Base in Greenland earlier this month for a “dynamic operational exercise,” testing its ability to rapidly deploy forces in the Arctic.

The exercise ran from Oct. 7-11, according to a release from Air Forces Northern, with the aircraft and crews getting ready “in a short period” and starting operations in Greenland by Oct. 8. 

“The rapid timeline presented a unique challenge,” Maj. Daniel Schoettle, operations contingency plans chief, said in a statement. “Setting up a forward operating location within days, from coordinating the movement of personnel and equipment to ensuring adequate support on the ground, required meticulous planning and seamless execution. 

All the aircraft involved came from Air National Guard units: 

• Two F-35s from the Wisconsin Air National Guard’s 115th Fighter Wing 
• Two F-16s from the South Carolina Air National Guard’s 169th Fighter Wing 
• Three KC-135s from the Wisconsin Air National Guard’s 128th Air Refueling Wing 

While in Greenland, the fighters and tankers partnered with the Royal Danish Air Force, which was flying a specialized Bombardier Challenger 604 aircraft for search-and-rescue coverage.

“This exercise demonstrated our ability to quickly and efficiently deploy forces to the Arctic, showcasing the adaptability necessary to operate in this unique and demanding environment,” said Lt. Gen. Luke Ahmann, commander of Air Forces Northern and NORAD’s continental U.S. region. 

NORAD semi-regularly deploys aircraft to Pituffik, formerly called Thule Air Base, the U.S. military’s northernmost installation in the world. Earlier this year, F-16s and KC-135s operated from there for a bitterly cold Operation Noble Defender. 

The presence of F-35s there, however, is still unusual—the Air Force deployed F-35As to Greenland for the first time ever in January 2023, and the service has not announced another visit since. 

The NORAD exercise also took place amid the ongoing government shutdown, which has curtailed some training events. The Guard members who participated should be paid under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s moves to pay troops on Oct. 15. 

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