Boeing B-52 Stratofortress Strategisk bombefly fra US Air Force flyr over Bardufoss flystasjon under vinter øvelsen Cold Response 2022

American B-52 strategic bombers over Bardufoss

American B-52 strategic bombers have participated in several joint trainings with Norwegian forces during exercise Cold Response 2022. Today, as part of a training mission, they passed over Bardufoss together with the Norwegian F-35s.

At 14.30 Norwegian time on Friday 25 March, one American B-52, closely followed by two Norwegian F-35s, flew over Bardufoss military airport, and further into the Cold Reponse training area. The training mission also included the Royal Norwegian Navy and the Norwegian frigate Roald Amundsen.
 
The training was well planned and coordinated, and it develops a joint ability to work closely as an alliance on advanced threat scenarios with forces on the ground and in the air.
 
"These missions that we have together with the American Bomber Task Force have developed into a very good and important collaboration. We plan and execute together, which shows a common commitment to working well with allies and partners to deter potential aggressive actions", says Rolf Folland, Chief of the Norwegian Air Force.

Last week and this week, Norwegian forces on the ground, at sea and in the air have participated in advanced training scenarios together with the strategic bombers. Special forces on the ground have helped to extract precise target data for the Norwegian and American aircraft.

Since 10 February, the B-52 Stratofortress aircraft belonging to the 69th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron have been stationed at Fairford, England. As part of the deployment to England, the aircraft have participated in several training missions with allies during the large winter exercise Cold Response.

The purpose of the winter exercise is to train reinforcements of allies / partners under challenging climatic conditions, and increase the preparedness and capacity of the participating forces. Our ability and will, supported by NATO, is the mainstay of Norway's defense. Therefore, such trainingmissions as the Bomber Task Force are important for developing a common understanding and common procedures.

About Cold Response 2022

  • Cold Response 2022 is a Norwegian military exercise with invited allies and partner nations. The exercise started on 14 March and will continue to 1 April 2022.
  • The first allied troops arrived in Norway last autumn and earlier this winter to train and prepare for the exercise. There will also be some minor allied training in April, after the field exercise.
  • Over 30,000 soldiers from 27 countries, as well as a number of civilian agencies are participating in the exercise.