US sends first-ever F-35 Lightning II fighter jets to a military base in Greenland
The United States Air Force conducted exercises at the northernmost US military base. It's called Thule and is located on the island of Greenland.
Here's What We Know
The exercise was conducted by the North American Space Defense Command (NORAD) from 15 to 31 January 2023. The US Air Force sent fifth-generation F-35 Lightning II fighter jets to Greenland for the first time ever.
NORAD conducted Operation #NobleDefender across multiple locations in the Arctic, and the coasts of Canada and the United States, between Jan. 15-31, 2023. For more details: https://t.co/AIG2bkh7gj #WeHaveTheWatch #arcticsecurity pic.twitter.com/iasdUPxYPt
- North American Aerospace Defense Command (@NORADCommand) January 31, 2023
The airbase is 750 miles (1,207 km) north of the Arctic Circle. The US military has sent at least four F-35A Lightning II aircraft to Greenland. Judging by the emblem, they belong to the 356th Green Demons Fighter Squadron, which is stationed at Eielson, Alaska.
Another serial of Op #NOBLEDEFENDER has just ended! The main ???????? contingent was deployed in Iqaluit while our ???????? allies were operating from Thule as part of this joint @NORADCommand operation. pic.twitter.com/P3zSeUeuef
- RCAF Operations (@RCAFOperations) January 31, 2023
The Royal Canadian Air Force participated in Noble Defender 23-2.1 exercise. In particular, a CF-18 Hornet 3rd Air Wing fighter was spotted in the photo. Also participating in the exercise were a Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker, an Airbus CC-150 Polaris air tanker, a B-52 Stratofortress nuclear bomber and a Boeing E-3 Sentry AWACS aircraft.
Source: NORADCommand
