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      Arctic Challenge Exercise 21: Strengthening Nordic RelationshipsPublished June 2, 2021
                    
                    By U.S. Air Forces in Europe - Air Forces Africa Public Affairs
            **ROVANIEMI AIR BASE, Finland (AFNS) --**U.S. Air Force Reserve **KC-135 Stratotankers** and Airmen assigned to the **459th Air Refueling Wing**,**Joint Base Andrews**, Maryland, arrived at Rovaniemi Air Base June 2 to support Arctic Challenge Exercise 21, a Royal Norwegian Air Force-led exercise, scheduled to take place in the Nordic countries of Sweden, Finland, and Norway.
In addition, U.S. Air Force KC-135s and Airmen assigned to the **100th Air Refueling Wing**, **Royal Air Force Mildenhall**, United Kingdom, will support the exercise from their home station. U.S. Air Force F-16C and F-16D **Fighting Falcons** and Airmen assigned to the **52nd Fighter Wing**, **Spangdahlem Air Base**, Germany will also participate from Kallax, Sweden. Airmen assigned to the 435th Contingency Response Group, **Ramstein AB**, Germany, and the Multinational Aircrew Live-synthetic-blended Training System, assigned to U.S. Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa Warrior Preparation Center, 19th Electronic Warfare Squadron, are also scheduled to support from Kallax, Sweden.
Exercises like ACE 21 build interoperability with allies and partners to demonstrate capability and convey a strong deterrent message. During the exercise, U.S., allied and partner nations will exercise the ability to plan, execute and evaluate large force employments in a multinational air operation.
“Arctic Challenge is a premiere exercise that strengthens relationships and builds security as we train with our Nordic partners,” said **Gen. Jeff Harrigian**, **U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa** commander.
ACE 21 provides participating units the ability to train with allies and partners in all possible aspects of air operations. Units will focus on offensive and defensive scenarios consisting of air-to-air and air-to-ground missions. Along with Norway and the U.S., Swedish, Finnish, Danish, Dutch, German, NATO and U.K. aircraft are scheduled to participate in the exercise.
This exercise has been conducted every other year since 2013 and is not associated with any current events.
Ensuring coordination with Arctic allies, regional partners and the joint force is critical. Seven out of eight Arctic nations are NATO members or Enhanced Opportunity Partners and hold a wealth of experience operating in the High North.AFWN 



USAF 



AF 



Air Force 



Arctic Challenge 



KC-135 Stratotanker 



459th ARW 



USAFE-AFAFRICA 



U.S. Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa 



mission 



training 



joint 



JB Andrews 



Rovaniemi Air Base 



Reserve 



Norway 



Sweden 



Finland 



ACE21 



RAF Mildenhall 



52nd FW 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