The mission was supported by the Royal Danish Air Pressure, underscoring Denmark’s contribution within the safety of the Arctic, and Greenland’s function within the protection of North America.
Within the second such deployment this yr, U.S. Air Pressure F-35A Lightning IIs, a KC-135 Stratotanker and F-16 Preventing Falcons deployed to Greenland’s Pituffik Area Base. This was a part of a four-day operation early in October, described as a “dynamic operational train,”NORAD (North American Aerospace Protection Command) and AFNORTH (Air Forces North) revealed in an Oct. 29, 2025, press launch.
The RDAF (Royal Danish Air Pressure) additionally supported the deployment with a CL-604 Challenger. The 2 Lightning IIs from the Wisconsin ANG’s one hundred and fifteenth Fighter Wing (one hundred and fifteenth FW) and two F-16C Block 52s from the South Carolina ANG’s 169th FW had been supported by a KC-135 Stratotanker from the 128th Air Refuelling Wing (128th ARW) of the Wisconsin ANG.
The press launch stated the operations started on Oct. 8 and all of the plane departed Greenland by Oct. 11, equally to the pictures’ captions and the VIRIN names assigned to the pictures. Nevertheless, the pictures’ particulars on DVIDS point out that the images had been taken on Aug. 16.
#NORAD‘s skill to defend North America is constructed upon the muse of partnerships. The U.S., Canada and the Kingdom of Denmark have an curiosity in collective protection that may strengthen the unity of effort within the #HighNorth. #WeHaveTheWatch #StrongerTogether
— North American Aerospace Protection Command (@NORADCommand) October 10, 2025
Rising exercise within the Arctic
Pituffik, initially often called Thule Air Base earlier than Denmark renamed it in 2023, is the U.S. Division of Protection’s northernmost set up within the Arctic, supporting space-based missions, missile warning techniques, and satellite tv for pc monitoring. The bottom is positioned roughly 750 miles north of the Arctic Circle.
The primary such deployment came about late in January 2025 when NORAD despatched two F-16s to Greenland. These had been to assist the Canadian NORAD Area’s (CANR) and Alaskan NORAD Area’s (ANR) power of two Canadian CF-18s, two KC-135s, two F-35s and one E-3C AWACS that had been despatched as much as monitor what NORAD described as “Russian navy plane exercise within the Arctic.”
Sep. 24 additionally noticed U.S. F-16s intercepting a formation of Russian plane together with Tu-95 Bear bombers and Su-35s within the Alaskan ADIZ (Air Protection Identification Zone).
NORAD’s newest ‘Dynamic Operational Train’ in Greenland
NORAD stated the F-35A, F-16 Preventing Falcon and KC-135 surge to the “strategically necessary location” was to “train readiness and strengthen interoperability with Danish companions.” The train highlights the vital function Greenland performs within the protection of North America and “the significance of enhanced Arctic operational readiness.”
Operations started Oct. 8, with the primary plane returning to their house station on Oct. 9, and all plane departing Greenland by Oct. 11. The collaboration of the RDAF’s Bombardier Challenger 604 plane with NORAD helped “preserve a relentless state of readiness for Search and Rescue (SAR) operations,” the NORAD assertion added. The RDAF CL-604 was additionally employed when the RDAF despatched two F-16AMs for a brief two-hour go to to Greenland’s Pitiffuk on Jun. 25.
The Challenger plane is a militarized model of the Bombardier Challenger 600 sequence of enterprise jets, that the RDAF usually makes use of for maritime patrol and journeys to the Arctic, the place it’s appropriate for the often tough gravel-covered strips. The RDAF’s extremely skilled SAR protection was a “very important functionality within the demanding Arctic atmosphere, guaranteeing the protection and well-being of all contributors.”
The general mission was overseen by NORAD’s 1st Air Pressure (Air Forces Northern and Air Forces Area). NORAD stated Greenland’s “strategic location makes it a significant part within the protection of North America.”
The assertion additional added that, “since June, U.S. Northern Command has assumed accountability for guaranteeing protection of the homeland vis-à-vis Greenland. The US is dedicated to strengthening its cooperation with the Kingdom of Denmark within the area.”
The train this time additionally noticed the bi-national U.S.-Canada NORAD working with Denmark in an effort to “contribute to our collective safety.” The assertion talked about “this train is only one instance of ongoing efforts to bolster Arctic safety and guarantee NORAD’s skill to successfully monitor and reply to potential threats.”
The Greenland administration’s assist can be vital to allow “adaptability and suppleness wanted to beat logistical hurdles in a dynamic and unforgiving atmosphere,” stated a caption. “Greenland, as a part of the Kingdom of Denmark, has lengthy performed an necessary function within the protection of North America, which strengthens NORAD’s skill to guard the continent from as we speak’s threats and rising challenges from all approaches,” additional said the caption.
Meticulous planning and execution
The NORAD launch quoted 1st Air Forces Northern and Air Forces Area commander Lt. Gen. Luke Ahmann, who stated how the train demonstrated the USAF’s “skill to rapidly and effectively deploy forces to the Arctic, showcasing the adaptability essential to function on this distinctive and demanding atmosphere.”
“Extra importantly, it highlighted the power of our partnership with the Kingdom of Denmark,” continued Ahmann. “We deeply worth their collaboration and the vital assist they supply, significantly the Royal Danish Air Pressure’s dedication to look and rescue capabilities on this area. Their partnership is crucial to making sure the protection and safety of operations within the Arctic.”
The deployment might be thought of a DFE (Dynamic Pressure Employment) train, which incorporates sudden and fast deployment to a ahead location with little discover, often in cooperation with an ally, and customarily at austere places with little infrastructural assist.
Danske F-16 er lige nu i Grønland, hvor de er en del af Forsvarets faste suverænitetshåndhævelse i Kongeriget og Forsvarets øgede tilstedeværelse i Grønland.F-16 piloterne tog turen fra Danmark til Grønland med støtte fra et fransk MRTT lufttankningsfly fra Armée de l’Air et de… pic.twitter.com/N9TD1u0cq1
— Forsvaret (@forsvaretdk) June 25, 2025
CONR-1AF’s (AFNORTH and AFSPACE) Maj. Daniel Schottle stated the “distinctive problem” within the “fast timeline” concerned a number of floor logistical planning and setup. This comprised “establishing a ahead working location inside days, from coordinating the motion of personnel and gear to making sure ample assist on the bottom, required meticulous planning and seamless execution.”
“The success of this train demonstrates the distinctive capabilities and dedication of our Airmen and the power of our partnership with the Kingdom of Denmark,” Schottle added. The train additionally comes amid President Donald Trump’s ambitions of annexing Greenland, a Danish semi-autonomous area, feedback that had been seconded by his Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Denmark can be a number one NATO member and actively participates within the European theater, and has been step by step changing its older F-16s at Skrydstrup Air Pressure Base with F-35As for the alliance’s QRAs (Fast Response Alert) duties.
