Particle.news
Download on the App Store
6 ARTICLES
·
17h ago

U.S. B-1Bs Land in Norway for Fifth Bomber Task Force Europe Rotation

The Dyess-based aircraft will integrate with Norwegian F-35s in high-threat training to bolster alliance readiness.

U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancers enroute through the Arctic were escorted by Spanish Air Force EF-18M Hornets from Keflavik Air Base, Iceland, in support of NATO’s Air Policing mission, Aug. 9, 2025. (Courtesy photo)
Image
Image

Overview

  • Three B-1B Lancers from the 345th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron arrived at Norway’s Ørland Air Base on Aug. 9 to begin Bomber Task Force Europe 25-4B.
  • Spanish EF-18M Hornets based at Iceland’s Keflavik Air Base escorted the bombers on their North Atlantic transit under NATO’s air policing framework.
  • The deployed Lancers will fly Allied-led missions with Norwegian F-35s, practicing high-threat find/fix/track/target operations.
  • This marks the fifth U.S. bomber rotation in Europe this year as the Air Force amplifies forward deployments to reassure allies and deter adversaries.
  • Air Force leadership warns that the intensified deployment tempo is stretching the aging B-1B fleet and may require pulling additional aircraft from storage to sustain operations.