Four F-35B Lightning II fighter jets from the United States Marine Corps played a historic role as they landed at Kallax Air Base in Lulea, Sweden.
+ Click here to watch the video of the F-35 during Exercise Nordic Response 24
This marked the first landing of a US F-35 in the Scandinavian country, signifying a significant milestone in collaboration between the two nations in defense operations. This occurred during the Nordic Response 24 exercise, a demonstration of the growing partnership between the United States and Sweden in terms of defense. Led by Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 542 and Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 252, the distributed aviation operations included ground refueling maneuvers, with a US KC-130J Super Hercules supporting the F-35B JSF aircraft.
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Brigadier General Tommy Petersson, Deputy Commander of the Swedish Air Force, welcomed the US Marine Corps at Kallax Air Base, highlighting the importance of agile combat employment in the joint exercise.
Distributed aviation operations played a pivotal role in the exercise, challenging adversary targeting efforts and promoting interoperability between US and Swedish forces. Brigadier General Scott Benedict, Commanding General of the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, emphasized the importance of this collaboration in ensuring operational success.
Exercise Nordic Response 24 also marked the international commitment of the United States Marine Corps, with deployed units from Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point in North Carolina. For VMFA-542, this was their first overseas exercise since achieving initial operational capability with the F-35B Lightning II jets.
Additionally, VMGR-252 played a vital role in supporting the objectives of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force, highlighting the versatility of the KC-130J Super Hercules aircraft. Through aviation operations in cold weather conditions, the squadron bolstered its proficiency while facilitating combat transport and aerial refueling missions.
The Nordic Response 24 exercise, lasting two weeks, served as a comprehensive demonstration of military prowess in land, maritime, and aviation domains. Against the backdrop of challenging Arctic terrain, participating forces engaged in realistic scenarios, showcasing their offensive and defensive capabilities. Brigadier General Bento emphasized the value of partnership, highlighting the importance of learning from allies’ experiences to enhance operational effectiveness.
Photos and video: Instagram @2nd_maw and @norrbottens_flygflottilj / Source: US Marines
