For the first time, the US Air Force (Air Force) will send B-1B Lancer strategic bombers to Norway “with an eye on the nearest Russia and the Arctic,” writes The Drive.
According to the American publication, these aircraft “in the near future” will arrive from Texas at the Norwegian airfield Orland. “We value the strong partnership we have with Norway and look forward to future opportunities to strengthen our collective defense,” said Jeffy Harrigian, Commander of the US Air Force Europe and Africa.
The publication notes that Orland is located about 300 miles (more than 480 kilometers) from the Arctic Circle, and the deployment of the B-1B Lancer indicates the desire of the United States “to work together with NATO allies and other partners on Russia's northwestern borders, as well as their ability to act in the Far North ”.
The Drive recalls that the fifth generation F-35 Lightning II fighters of the Royal Norwegian Air Force are located in Orland; American E-3 Sentry airborne early warning aircraft (AWACS) periodically arrive there from the airbase in the German city of Geilenkirchen.
The publication also notes that at present Russia, in particular, is strengthening its Northern Fleet, in connection with which the presence of American submarines in Norway will become more frequent.
In May 2020, the US Air Force B-1B Lancer with military numbers 85-0060 and 86-60139 entered Ukrainian airspace for the first time in history.
In September of the same year, Harrigian announced that the Pentagon had a plan to break through the multilayer air defense (air defense) of the Kaliningrad region.
In July 2020, NRK reported that the Norwegian Intelligence Service (NRS) on August 12, 2000 immediately learned about the incident with the Russian nuclear submarine (nuclear submarine) K-141 Kursk, Project 949A Antey.
