{"id":29844,"date":"2020-09-30T20:32:23","date_gmt":"2020-09-30T20:32:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/uncategorized\/2020\/09\/30\/b-1s-cross-the-north-pole-to-train-with-norwegians\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T20:57:35","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T20:57:35","slug":"b-1s-cross-the-north-pole-to-train-with-norwegians","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/news\/your-air-force\/2020\/09\/30\/b-1s-cross-the-north-pole-to-train-with-norwegians\/","title":{"rendered":"B-1s cross the North Pole to train with Norwegians"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A pair of B-1B Lancer bombers<\/a> passed through the Arctic Circle last Friday en route to a training mission with the Norwegian air force.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The B-1s<\/a>, took off from Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska, crossed over the North Pole and were refueled in the Arctic during the 16-hour, 3,100-nautical mile sortie, the Air Force said in a Wednesday release. They spent several hours training with Norwegian forces, including a pair of F-16V Fighting Falcons, off the coast of Greenland and over the Norwegian Sea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The bombers<\/a> are part of the 345th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron, and their home station is at Dyess Air Force Base in Texas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Air Force said the bomber task force mission showed its ability to carry out complex operations in multiple locations with NATO allies and partners. And the ability to operate in the Arctic is necessary to support the military\u2019s mission in Europe, and the National Defense Strategy focusing on fighting near-peer nations in Asia and Europe instead of militant groups in the Middle East.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is about access,\u201d squadron commander Col. Christopher Hawn said in the release. \u201cIn a near-peer conflict, the closest point of access could require us to go through the Arctic, so we need to ensure we are well-versed in that operational environment.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The squadron said that training in the Arctic has become increasingly important in recent years, due to the region\u2019s strategic value.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe harsh conditions and limited access throughout the region make it easy to overlook the value of the Arctic,\u201d said Lt. Col. Andrew Marshall, the squadron\u2019s director of operations. \u201cHowever, the increase in global competition for access and control of the region solidifies the Arctic\u2019s status as a key territory.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t