F-35A and F-16 fighters from the U.S. Air Force carried out a “dynamic operational exercise” in Greenland, supported by the Royal Danish Air Force.
On this occasion, F-35A Lightning II jets from the U.S. Air Force, a KC-135 Stratotanker aerial refueling aircraft, and F-16 Fighting Falcon fighters were deployed to Pituffik Space Base in Greenland.
This was the second deployment of its kind this year (the first took place at the end of January 2025) and was part of a four-day operation held in early October, described as a “dynamic operational exercise.”
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The information was released by NORAD (North American Aerospace Defense Command) and AFNORTH (Air Forces Northern) in a press statement dated October 29, 2025.
According to the statement, the operations began on October 8, and all aircraft had departed Greenland by October 11. In addition to the American assets, the RDAF (Royal Danish Air Force) also supported the deployment with a CL-604 Challenger.
said that the deployment of F-35A, F-16 Fighting Falcon, and KC-135 aircraft to the “strategically important location” aimed to “exercise readiness and strengthen interoperability with Danish partners.”
The exercise highlighted the crucial role Greenland plays in the defense of North America and “the importance of enhanced operational readiness in the Arctic,” according to NORAD.
“Greenland, as part of the Kingdom of Denmark, has long played an important role in the defense of North America, strengthening NORAD’s ability to protect the continent from current threats and emerging challenges coming from all directions,” the statement added.
Photos: X @1stAF / @NORADCommand. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
