The US Air Force intercepted its own B-1B Lancer strategic bombers as they returned from Europe, simulating an attack on the US and Canada

The US Air Force completed the deployment of B-1B Lancer strategic supersonic bombers to Europe. The planes took part in a small Noble Defender exercise on their way home, simulating an attack on the US and Canada.

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The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) decided to test how effectively American and allied forces could intercept the B-1Bs. The exercise involved fighters from U.S., Canadian, British, Danish, Norwegian, Swedish and Finnish forces.

All countries took turns to intercept the two bombers as they travelled from Europe and North America. The manoeuvres took place on June 26, 2023.

Britain sent four fighters - two F-35B Lighting IIs and a Eurofighter Typhoon each. Denmark used a pair of F-16 Fighting Falcon. Sweden sent two JAS 39 Gripen and Norway and Finland sent two F-35A Lightning II and F/A-18 Hornet, respectively.

Defending North America from a notional threat was provided by two F-15C Eagle fighters from the Massachusetts Air National Guard and a pair of CF-18 Hornets from the Royal Canadian Air Force. They were assisted by a KC-135 Stratotanker air refueller.

NORAD said in a statement that the Noble Defender intercepts demonstrated multiple layers of defence. The manoeuvres demonstrated that Allied forces are capable of responding effectively to potential threats.

Source: Air & Space Forces Magazine