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More than two dozen U.S. Air Force fighters and tankers—including F-35s for the first time—are participating in what U.S. Air Force leaders in Europe call the region’s “premier” Nordic exercise over the next two weeks.
Some 150 aircraft from 14 countries are taking part in Arctic Challenge Exercise 2023, which kicked off May 29 and runs through June 9 at bases across Sweden, Finland, and Norway.
Eight F-35s and 14 F-15Es from the 48th Fighter Wing at RAF Lakenheath, U.K., deployed for the exercise, with the F-35s going to Norway’s Ørland Air Base and the F-15Es to Finland’s Pirkkala Air Base. KC-135s from the 100th Air Refueling Wing at RAF Mildenhall, U.K., and the Maine Air National Guard will support the exercise from Ørland Air Base and RAF Mildenhall.
A Royal Netherlands Air Force F-35A Lighting II takes off for a familiarization flight prior to Arctic Challenge Exercise 2023 at Ørland Air Base, Norway, May 23, 2023. Joint exercises, such as ACE 23, demonstrate cooperation, enhance interoperability and expand deterrence. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Olivia Gibson)
A Belgian Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon takes off for a familiarization flight prior to Arctic Challenge Exercise 2023 at Ørland Air Base, Norway, May 23, 2023. ACE 23 helps build trust with Allies and Partners and mitigates operational uncertainties within the Arctic region. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Olivia Gibson)
U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Christian Leo, weapons load crew member assigned to the 493rd Fighter Squadron, prepares an F-35A Lightning II for a familiarization flight prior to Arctic Challenge Exercise 2023 at Ørland Air Base, Norway, May 24, 2023. ACE 23 improves Interoperability between Allies and Partners which is especially critical in the Arctic region due to terrain, limited access and the low-density of domain awareness assets. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Olivia Gibson)
U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Riley Cason, assistant dedicated crew chief assigned to the 493rd Fighter Squadron and Airman 1st Class Francisco Rodriquez, weapons load crew member assigned to the 493rd Fighter Squadron, prepare an F-35A Lightning II for a familiarization flight prior to Arctic Challenge Exercise 2023 at Ørland Air Base, Norway, May 24, 2023. ACE 23 improves Interoperability between Allies and Partners which is especially critical in the Arctic region due to terrain, limited access and the low-density of domain awareness assets. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Olivia Gibson)
U.S. Air Force Airman Robbie Lettieri, assistant dedicated crew chief assigned to the 493rd Fighter Squadron, prepares an F-35A Lightning II for the kick-off of Arctic Challenge Exercise 2023 at Ørland Air Base, Norway, May 29, 2023. The advanced fifth-generation fighter will integrate and operate alongside 13 nations and NATO throughout the exercise, which provides critical training in a highly complex and harsh Arctic environment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Olivia Gibson)
Airmen from the 414th Combat Training “Red Flag” Squadron at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., deployed to Sweden’s Luleå Air Base to integrate with planners.
The annual Arctic Challenge exercises started in 2013 pulling together the U.S., the United Kingdom. and the three Nordic countries. It has since grown into one of the largest aerial exercises in the Arctic region. This year’s participants include the U.S., U.K., the Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, Canada, France, Germany, Switzerland, Denmark, and the Czech Republic.
This is the first time U.S. F-35s have taken part, and Italy, Norway, and the Netherlands all sent F-35s as well.
Also new this year: Finland took the lead in organizing and running the exercise, a notable step given its entry into the NATO alliance just months ago. Sweden is still waiting for admittance into the NATO fold.
“By training and conducting realistic exercises in the High North, like Arctic Challenge Exercise 2023, U.S. forces and those of Allied and Partner nations hone skills, fine-tune interoperability, nurture key relationships, and acclimate to the inherent challenges posed by fighting in the Arctic’s extreme conditions,” a USAFE press release stated.
Arctic Challenge Exercise comes amid a run of exercises in Europe. NATO’s DEFENDER 2023 exercise kicked off earlier this month with A-10s from the 442nd Fighter Wing at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., split between Zaragosa Air Base, Spain, and Thessaloniki Air Base, Greece. Airlift aircraft soon followed.
Meanwhile, the German-led Air Defender 23 exercise will begin June 12, featuring around 100 U.S. Air National Guard aircraft, including F-35s, F-16s, F-15s, A-10s, KC-135, KC-46s, C-130s, and C-17s. Operations will take place in Germany, the Czech Republic, Estonia, and Latvia.
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
