The U.S. B-52s took part in a tri-national live fire exercise with British and Norwegian forces in Norway focused on multidomain find, fix, track, and target tactics.
The Royal Norwegian Air Force (RNoAF) has released some pretty interesting shots showing U.S. B-52H Stratofortress bombers as seen through the P-8A Poseidon’s Wescam MX-20HD EO/IR (electro-optical/infrared) sensor. The bombers were taking part to the Norwegian-led tri-national exercise with the U.S. and U.K., dubbed Apex Buccaneer.
Specifically, this was a multi-domain find, fix, track and target military exercise with fifth-generation aircraft which was held in the High North on Dec. 3, 2024. The air assets included Norwegian F-35 Lightning IIs and P-8 Poseidon aircraft, U.K. F-35 Lightning IIs and Eurofighter Typhoons, a U.K. RC-135 Rivet Joint reconnaissance aircraft, and U.S. B-52 Stratofortress bombers, KC-135 Stratotankers, a U-2 Dragon Lady and F-35 Lightning IIs.
A B-52 bomber photographed from a Norwegian Poseidon P8 aircraft during night flight. 📸P-8 / @forsvaret.bsky.social
— Selshevneren (@selshevneren.bsky.social) 4 dicembre 2024 alle ore 15:12
The assets worked together, also integrating special forces assets on the ground, to drop live weapons on targets. The only aircraft to employ the live ordnance were the B-52s, which engaged targets at the Setermoen military range in Norway.
“Multi-domain integration is essential for leveraging the full spectrum of capabilities,” said Gen. James Hecker, U.S. Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa commander. “It creates a more adaptable, resilient and precise military force capable of addressing diverse and evolving threats across the battlespace.”
Air forces from the USA and UK are exercising in Norway together with the NOR Armed Forces. Units from all domains train on effectively identifying, engaging and neutralising targets. This makes Norway and the High North safer. @HQUSAFEAFAF @NATO_AIRCOM @RoyalAirForce @US_EUCOM pic.twitter.com/uRhxaRrh8s
— Norwegian Armed Forces | Forsvaret (@Forsvaret_no) December 4, 2024
The exercise
According to a Norwegian statement, the exercise has been ongoing this week. A major objective of the exercise challenged participating Allied forces to work together to execute live weapon drops in Norway on targets which simulated enemy positions on Allied territory.
The three nations collaborated with their counterparts to share data and overcome the simulated threat posed in this exercise, said the statement. Norwegian joint terminal attack controllers directed the payloads onto targets from their positions on the ground.
This was MARVEL21 powering up yesterday. Handy they left the door of the building open!😄rest of the video is here:👉https://t.co/QtRpqYcp94 pic.twitter.com/fGREWx17Jh
— Saint1 (@Saint1Mil) December 4, 2024
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“This training event demonstrates the ability of the Norwegian Armed Forces to integrate with and leverage cutting-edge capabilities provided by the U.K. and U.S. in multi-domain operations,” said Brig. Gen. Tron Strand, commander of Joint Air Operations Center in Norway. “In addition, the event provides an opportunity to develop, exercise and integrate our air command and control capability, to include F2T2, with close Allies. Together we are a credible deterrent, and if required, we are ready to defend the Arctic region.
As mentioned by Strand, Find, Fix, Track, Target (F2T2) was a key tactic trained during the exercise, focused on a multidomain scenario. Actually, to be more precise, a more precise term would be Find, Fix, Track, Target, Engage, Assess (F2T2EA), since there were actual weapons released on target.
This was MARVEL20 head on today at #RAFFairford, those wings are huge! #b52 #aviation pic.twitter.com/9VMWABqqwl
— Saint1 (@Saint1Mil) December 3, 2024
Being able to employ this tactic with Allied forces seamlessly is an essential task in modern warfare, given the multiple types of assets involved. NATO air forces routinely exercise together to integrate tactics, techniques and procedures, and strengthen the Alliance’s ability to operate together if the need arises.
“Interoperability is vital to the defense of NATO’s northern flank,” said Group Captain Hannah Bishop, head of operational plans for the Royal Air Force. “This exercise has demonstrated important enduring strengths of our alliance: our ability to understand how each other operates, to share critical information quickly, and to work seamlessly with each other.”
It was a smoky departure by MARVEL Flt today!😏😎
Vid with close ups here: https://t.co/QtRpqYcp94 pic.twitter.com/bWfbvzJVX9
— Saint1 (@Saint1Mil) December 3, 2024
The exercise also reflects the recently renewed focus on the Artic region. In recent years, in fact, U.S. bombers were sent over the Artic circle multiple times, with B-1Bs, B-2As and B-52Hs flying there. In 2021, B-1Bs also landed for the first time at Bodø Main Air Station in northern Norway, marking the bomber’s first landing at an airbase above the Artic Circle.
“The Arctic is a critical region for our collective security and global stability,” Hecker said. “Training with our Norwegian and U.K. Allies in this environment demonstrates our shared commitment to defending NATO’s northern flank and adapting to emerging threats. Fifth-generation platforms are pivotal to maintaining air superiority in contested spaces, and exercises like this showcase their unmatched capability.”
Bomber Task Force 25-1
The bombers which took part in exercise Apex Buccaneer are currently deployed in Europe. In fact, four U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress assigned to the 2nd Bomb Wing, Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, arrived at Royal Air Force Fairford, England for Bomber Task Force 25-1, on Nov. 8, 2024.
While deployed, the B-52s are operating as the 20th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron and integrating with NATO Allies and other international partners to synchronize capabilities and assure security commitments across the U.S. European Command area of responsibility, said a press release.
The B-52 deployment to Fairford is the second such deployment of 2024, following BTF 24-3 in June. RAF Fairford, an airbase in Gloucestershire, UK, operated by the U.S. Air Force, is one of the most common BTF locations.
“This Bomber Task Force mission exemplifies our unwavering commitment to our European Allies and partners. Together, we build stronger, more strategic relationships that reinforce security and stability across the region,” said Gen. Hecker. “Through these missions, we not only demonstrate the global reach of our bomber forces, but also the strength of our collective partnerships in Europe, ensuring we remain agile and ready to address any challenge.”
