The mission was supported by the Royal Danish Air Force, underscoring Denmark’s contribution to Arctic security and Greenland’s role in the defense of North America.
In the second such deployment this year, U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning IIs, a KC-135 Stratotanker and F-16 Fighting Falcons deployed to Greenland’s Pituffik Space Base. This was part of a four-day operation in early October, described as a “dynamic operational exercise,” NORAD (North American Aerospace Defense Command) and AFNORTH (Air Forces Northern) revealed in a statement dated October 29, 2025. Press release.
The RDAF (Royal Danish Air Force) also supported the deployment with a CL-604 Challenger. The two Lightning IIs of the 115th Fighter Wing of the Wisconsin ANG (115th FW) and two F-16C Block 52s of the 169th FW of the South Carolina ANG were supported by a KC-135 Stratotanker of the 128th Air Refueling Wing (128th ARW) of the Wisconsin ANG.
The press release said operations began on October 8 and all aircraft departed Greenland on October 11, similar to the photo titles and VIRIN names assigned to the photos. However, the details of the photos in DVD Mention that the photographs were taken on August 16.
#NORADThe United States’ ability to defend North America is based on partnerships. The United States, Canada and the Kingdom of Denmark have an interest in a collective defense that strengthens the unity of efforts in the #AltoNorte. #WeHaveTheClock #StrongerTogether https://t.co/uy9gTt4xlA
— North American Aerospace Defense Command (@NORADCommand) October 10, 2025
Growing activity in the Arctic
Pituffik, originally known as Thule Air Base before it was renamed by Denmark in 2023, is the US Department of Defense’s northernmost facility in the Arctic and supports space missions, missile warning systems and satellite tracking. The base is located approximately 750 miles north of the Arctic Circle.
The first such deployment took place in late January 2025, when NORAD sent two F-16s to Greenland. These were to support the Canadian NORAD Region (CANR) and Alaska NORAD Region (ANR) force of two Canadian CF-18s, two KC-135s, two F-35s, and one E-3C AWACS that were sent to monitor what NORAD described as “Russian military aircraft activity in the Arctic.”
Also on September 24, American F-16s intercepted a formation of Russian aircraft that included Tu-95 Bear and Su-35 bombers in Alaska’s ADIZ (Air Defense Identification Zone).
NORAD’s latest ‘dynamic operational exercise’ in Greenland
NORAD said the advancement of the F-35A, F-16 Fighting Falcon and KC-135 to the “strategically important location” was to “exercise readiness and strengthen interoperability with Danish partners.” The exercise highlights the critical role Greenland plays in the defense of North America and “the importance of improving operational readiness in the Arctic.”
Operations began on 8 October, the first aircraft returned to its home station on 9 October and all aircraft departed Greenland on 11 October. The collaboration of the RDAF’s Bombardier Challenger 604 aircraft with NORAD helped “maintain a constant state of readiness for Search and Rescue (SAR) operations,” the NORAD statement added. The RDAF CL-604 was also employed when the RDAF sent two F-16AMs for a brief two-hour visit to Pitiffuk in Greenland on 25 June.
The Challenger aircraft is a militarized version of the Bombardier Challenger 600 series of executive aircraft, which the RDAF often uses for maritime patrols and trips to the Arctic, where it is suitable for the frequently gravel-covered strips. The RDAF’s highly trained SAR coverage was a “vital capability in the demanding Arctic environment, ensuring the safety and well-being of all participants.”
The overall mission was overseen by NORAD’s 1st Air Force (Northern Air Forces and Space Air Forces). NORAD said Greenland’s “strategic location makes it a vital component in the defense of North America.”
The statement further added that, “Since June, the United States Northern Command has assumed responsibility for ensuring homeland defense off Greenland. The United States is committed to strengthening its cooperation with the Kingdom of Denmark in the region.”
This time around, the exercise also saw the binational NORAD between the United States and Canada working with Denmark in an effort to “contribute to our collective security.” The statement mentions that “this exercise is just one example of ongoing efforts to bolster Arctic security and ensure NORAD’s ability to effectively monitor and respond to potential threats.”
The support of the Greenland administration is also essential to allow “the adaptability and flexibility necessary to overcome logistical obstacles in a dynamic and unforgiving environment,” said a caption. “Greenland, as part of the Kingdom of Denmark, has long played an important role in the defense of North America, strengthening NORAD’s ability to protect the continent from current threats and emerging challenges from all approaches,” the caption further read.
Meticulous planning and execution
The NORAD statement quoted Northern Air Forces and Air Space Forces commander Lt. Gen. Luke Ahmann as saying how the exercise demonstrated the USAF’s “ability to rapidly and efficiently deploy forces to the Arctic, displaying the adaptability needed to operate in this unique and demanding environment.”
“More importantly, it highlighted the strength of our partnership with the Kingdom of Denmark,” Ahmann continued. “We deeply value their collaboration and the critical support they provide, particularly the Royal Danish Air Force’s commitment to search and rescue capabilities in this region. Their partnership is essential to ensure the safety of operations in the Arctic.”
The deployment could be considered a DFE (Dynamic Force Employment) exercise, which includes a sudden and rapid deployment to a forward location without warning, usually in cooperation with an ally, and usually in austere locations with little infrastructure support.
Danske F-16 er lige nu i Grønland, hvor de er en del af Forsvarets faste suverænitetshåndhævelse i Kongeriget y Forsvarets øgede tilstedeværelse i Grønland.
F-16 piloterne tog turen de Danmark til Grønland med støtte fra et fransk MRTT lufttankningsfly fra Armée de l’Air et de… pic.twitter.com/N9TD1u0cq1-Forsvaret (@forsvaretdk) June 25, 2025
Maj. Daniel Schottle of CONR-1AF (AFNORTH and AFSPACE) said the “unique challenge” in the “rapid timeline” involved a lot of ground logistics planning and configuration. This involved “establishing a forward operating location in a matter of days, from coordinating the movement of personnel and equipment to ensuring adequate support on the ground, required meticulous planning and flawless execution.”
“The success of this exercise demonstrates the exceptional capabilities and dedication of our Airmen and the strength of our partnership with the Kingdom of Denmark,” Schottle added. The exercise also comes amid President Donald Trump’s ambitions to annex Greenland, a semi-autonomous Danish region, comments that were seconded by his Secretary of State, Marco Rubio.
Denmark is also a prominent member of NATO and actively involved in the European theater, gradually replacing its aging F-16s at Skrydstrup Air Force Base with F-35As for the alliance’s QRA (Quick Reaction Alert) duties.
