Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 News
    
        Photos

    Week in Photos

    Air Force TV

    Commentaries

    Features

    Art

    About Us
    
        Air Force Senior Leaders
    
        SECAF

    CSAF

    CMSAF

    Biographies

    Fact Sheets

    SECAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library
    
        CSAF Leadership Library 2022

    CSAF Leadership Library 2021

    CSAF Reading List Pre-2020 Archive
    
        2018 CSAF Reading List

    2017 CSAF Reading List

    2016 CSAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library 2023

    CMSAF Leadership Library

    50 Years of the CMSAF

    Adjunct Professors

    Air Force Strategic Documents

    Arctic Strategy

    Empowered Airmen

    State Licensure Portability

    Careers

    AF Federal Advisory Committees

    AF 75th Anniversary

    Policy Updates

    AF Content Management

    Contact Us

    AF Sites
    
        Site RegistrationU.S. Air Force LogoAir Force

        Policy UpdatesNewsroomReoptimizationBIOGRAPHIESAF Senior Leaders      A U.S. Air Force F-15C Eagle finishes refueling with a U.S. Air Force KC-135R Stratotanker Sept. 12, 2013, en route to the Arctic Challenge exercise. The F-15C, in coordination with fighters from Norway, Sweden, Finland and the U.K., provided the air-to-air attack element in many of the scenarios during the exercise.130912-F-DT859-006
                        
                        
                        A U.S. Air Force F-15C Eagle finishes refueling with a U.S. Air Force KC-135R Stratotanker Sept. 12, 2013, en route to the Arctic Challenge exercise. The F-15C, in coordination with fighters from Norway, Sweden, Finland and the U.K., provided the air-to-air attack element in many of the scenarios during the exercise.
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res
        


        A pilot and a weapons systems operator in a U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle refuel with a KC-135R Stratotanker Sept. 17, 2013, over Norway during the Arctic Challenge exercise. The exercise afforded pilots from various European nations the chance to fly and practice aerial combat maneuvers with partner nations.130917-F-DT859-043
                        
                        
                        A pilot and a weapons systems operator in a U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle refuel with a KC-135R Stratotanker Sept. 17, 2013, over Norway during the Arctic Challenge exercise. The exercise afforded pilots from various European nations the chance to fly and practice aerial combat maneuvers with partner nations.
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res
        


        Staff Sgt. Keith Shaff, 100th Air Refueling Wing flying crew chief, conducts a pre-flight inspection on a KC-135R Stratotanker Sept. 16, 2013, on Main Air Station Ørland, Norway. Shaff and other maintainers kept aircraft ready to carry out a multitude of missions during the Arctic Challenge exercise, which included participation from Sweden, Finland, the U.K., Norway, the U.S. and NATO.130916-F-DT859-010
                        
                        
                        Staff Sgt. Keith Shaff, 100th Air Refueling Wing flying crew chief, conducts a pre-flight inspection on a KC-135R Stratotanker Sept. 16, 2013, on Main Air Station Ørland, Norway. Shaff and other maintainers kept aircraft ready to carry out a multitude of missions during the Arctic Challenge exercise, which included participation from Sweden, Finland, the U.K., Norway, the U.S. and NATO.
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res
        


        2nd Lt. Christopher Hickman, left, and Staff Sgt. Curtis McKee, 100th Air Refueling Wing, remove engine covers on a KC-135R Stratotanker prior to its disembarkment Sept. 16, 2013, for the Arctic Challenge exercise “play zones” over northern Norway. The 100th ARW provided all the aerial refueling for the exercise.130916-F-DT859-013
                        
                        
                        2nd Lt. Christopher Hickman, left, and Staff Sgt. Curtis McKee, 100th Air Refueling Wing, remove engine covers on a KC-135R Stratotanker prior to its disembarkment Sept. 16, 2013, for the Arctic Challenge exercise “play zones” over northern Norway. The 100th ARW provided all the aerial refueling for the exercise.
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res
        


        Two Norwegian F-16AM Fighting Falcons conduct an engine run-up prior to take off Sept. 16, 2013, on Main Air Station Orland, Norway. Norway hosted the Arctic Challenge exercise from Sept. 16 to 26 as a way for countries in the area to practice aerial tactics together without their people and equipment having to travel far away.130916-F-DT859-020
                        
                        
                        Two Norwegian F-16AM Fighting Falcons conduct an engine run-up prior to take off Sept. 16, 2013, on Main Air Station Orland, Norway. Norway hosted the Arctic Challenge exercise from Sept. 16 to 26 as a way for countries in the area to practice aerial tactics together without their people and equipment having to travel far away.
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res
        


        Two Finnish Air Force F-18C Hornets prepare to refuel with a U.S. Air Force KC-135R Stratotanker Sept. 17, 2013, over Norway during the Arctic Challenge exercise. The Hornets formed a “Red Team” strike package with six F-15E Strike Eagles from the 48th Fighter Wing as they attempted to “raid” an enemy command post during this portion of the exercise.130917-F-DT859-029
                        
                        
                        Two Finnish Air Force F-18C Hornets prepare to refuel with a U.S. Air Force KC-135R Stratotanker Sept. 17, 2013, over Norway during the Arctic Challenge exercise. The Hornets formed a “Red Team” strike package with six F-15E Strike Eagles from the 48th Fighter Wing as they attempted to “raid” an enemy command post during this portion of the exercise.
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res
        


        Four U.S. Air Force F-15C Eagles fly in formation after refueling Sept. 12, 2013, on their way to the Arctic Challenge exercise in Norway. The F-15C, in coordination with fighters from other nations, provided the air-to-air attack element in many of the scenarios during the exercise.130912-F-DT859-057
                        
                        
                        Four U.S. Air Force F-15C Eagles fly in formation after refueling Sept. 12, 2013, on their way to the Arctic Challenge exercise in Norway. The F-15C, in coordination with fighters from other nations, provided the air-to-air attack element in many of the scenarios during the exercise.
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res

Airmen test skills in first 'Arctic Challenge'Published Sept. 19, 2013
                    
                    By 1st Lt. Christopher Mesnard
                    
                    
                    100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
            **ØRLAND, Norway (AFNS) --**The first Exercise Arctic Challenge, which includes more than 60 aircraft from five partner nations, here began Sept. 16.


Norwegian F-16 Fighting Falcons, Swedish JAS-39 Gripens, Finnish F/A-18 Hornets and U.K. Eurofighter Typhoons took to the skies with U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles, F-15C Eagles and KC-135 Stratotankers to train in a combined environment. They incorporated both strategic planning and tactical war fighting simulations, practicing in-flight maneuvers and communication strategies with each other.


Two NATO E-3A AWACS aircraft also joined in to provided aerial combat command for the dueling aircraft further simulating a real combat scenario.


"(Our) air force has, in periods, had the need to train at bigger scenarios with more aircraft, and this is difficult in Norway, with only our own planes at (our)disposal," said Col. Baid Solheim, Main Air Station Bodø base commander. "Before the cross border training we had to deploy to foreign, far away countries to fly against other types of aircraft, [now] we fly directly from Bodø. In this way it's very efficient in costs."

The Arctic Challenge exercise focused on bringing the Scandinavian nations, the U.S. and the U.K. together in the air, to challenge pilots to react quickly and work together to achieve common goals. During times of maximum participation, more than 60 aircraft are expected to partake in the war-fighting scenarios.


"During this exercise, we will face almost every scenario that could be seen in any war or conflict," said U.S. Air Force Maj. Rich Stringer, 494th Fighter Squadron assistant director of operations and lead project officer for the 48th Fighter Wing's participation in the exercise. The different aircraft will take turns as the aggressors and will be tested on how they can respond to a variety of scenarios, according to Stringer.


The purpose of this exercise is to train air forces to operate cohesively. Arctic Challenge, in particular, allows multiple nations to perform aerial operations simultaneously; give critical feedback on how to improve processes; and become a more efficient and effective force -- especially in a multi-national environment.


"These exercises provide the U.S. and NATO forces an opportunity to integrate their operations at both the tactical and strategic levels with a high level of fidelity that could not otherwise be achieved without live-fly exercises," said Capt. Timothy Gerne, 100th Operations Support Squadron chief of wing weapons and tactics and director of operations for the 100th Air Refueling Wing portion of the exercise. "Similar to a Red Flag exercise in mission sets, large force numbers and multinational integration, the benefits of hosting locally allows us and our allies to focus resources toward operations."


In addition to flying with allies, Airmen on MAS Bodø and MAS Ørland combined the exercise with a simulated deployment. The movement tested many assets in U.S. Air Forces in Europe including air lift, medical, legal and financial services.


"This exercise improves the readiness of everyone because of the variety of scenarios and the high level of skill that we are flying with and against," said Stringer. "The Finns, Swedes, British, and Norwegians are all very skilled aviators and have very competent forces."


The Arctic Challenge exercise is scheduled to continue until Sept. 26, before culminating in a final scenario which tests the pilots on their ability to operate in a diverse force.Norway 



Finnish 



F-15 Eagle 



exercise 



100th Air Refueling Wing 



Arctic Challenge Featured News
        Senior Leader Priorities
                DAF leaders talk budget, reoptimizing the force
                    
                    DAF leaders speak at National Character and Leadership Symposium
                    
                    DAF members recognized during BEYA STEM awards
                    
                    DAF senior enlisted advisors discuss Airmen, Guardians in the fight
                    
                    SecAF Kendall AFA Warfare Symposium Q&A: Reoptimizing for Great Power CompetitionInnovation
                AFWERX director discusses role of tech startups, quick innovation in Great Power Competition
                    
                    DAF delivers lethality at the speed of data during Project Convergence Capstone 4
                    
                    DAF welcomes industry partners to HQ development program
                    
                    DAF announces Spark Tank 2024 finalists
                    
                    Chief Digital, Artificial Intelligence Office to host hackathon in HawaiiMAJCOM News
                Safety enterprise announces new mission, vision, goals in 2024 strategic plan
                    
                    Air Combat Command welcomes new commander
                    
                    USAFE-AFAFRICA commander discusses Integrated Air, Missile Defense during Munich Security Conference
                    
                    Flosi to AFMC family: Embrace change, make every day count
                    
                    AMC rises to increasing global tension
 Quick Links
AccessibilityContact UsEqual OpportunityFOIA | Privacy | Section 508Information QualityInspector GeneralJAG Court-Martial DocketLink DisclaimerNo FEAR ActOpen GovernmentOSI Tip LinePlain LanguageQuestionsResilienceRSSSite MapVeterans Crisis LineCareers
Join the Air ForceAir Force BenefitsAir Force CareersAir Force ReserveAir National GuardCivilian ServiceConnect
            Get Social with Us
            
            Official United States Air Force Website
    Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil