Two of the four B-1 bombers deployed in Norway flew their first mission yesterday after arrival in the country a few days ago. They conducted tactical integration with Norwegian F-35s and Norwegian naval assets in the eastern Barents Sea, according to a US European Command press release.
Rome-based aviation blogger David Cenciotti published tracking data for the flight on his blog and noted that “the area of operations, over international waters, was not far from Severomorsk, Russian Navy Northern Fleet. Those are waters, which have been dubbed ‘Russia’s Naval Backyard,’ are of strategic importance for Russia to ensure the survivability of its second-strike nuclear assets, the ballistic missile submarines based with the Northern Fleet.” Cenciotti bluntly states that “The presence of the U.S. bombers in that area is going to increase tension in the area.”
A NATO Maritime Command press release reported on Thursday that the bomber mission was to be part of a NATO exercise called “Dynamic Guard,” which began on Feb. 22. “Dynamic Guard is designed to build and maintain proficiency in maritime electronic warfare and anti-ship missile defence, and this year it follows on from Norway’s TG 21-1 exercise in anti-submarine warfare,” the release says. “As part of the exercise, U.S. Air Force B-1B bomber aircraft deployed at Orland Air Base will conduct tactical integration with NATO forces in the Barents Sea.” Aside from two Norwegian Navy ships, the exercise also includes ships from Canada and Germany.