Air Force photograph by SrA. Erin Babis

A 493rd Fighter Squadron F-15C Eagle and a Royal Norwegian Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon taxi to the runway for training exercise Arctic Fighter Meet 2016, Bodø Main Air Station, Norway, May 25, 2016. This training exercise allowed forward-based U.S. Airmen and aircraft from RAF Lakenheath to train with NATO Allies and European partners, building on skill sets and improving every nation’s ability to seamlessly work together.

The 48th Fighter Wing, based at RAF Lakenheath, England, trained alongside the Norwegian, Swedish and Finnish air forces during exercise Arctic Fighter Meet 2016, May 23-27.

Seven jets from the 492nd and 493rd Fighter Squadrons were brought to Norway to conduct basic fighter maneuvers with dissimilar aircraft to improve combined air operations.

“Back home we are training against like aircraft, other F-15s,” explained Maj. Nick Norgaard, Arctic Fighter Meet 2016 project officer. “The opportunity that is unique here is that we get to train with F-18s, F-16s and Gripens. That allows us to get a different perspective on how other aircraft maneuver because when we go to war, we don’t expect to fight other F-15s.”

Air Force photograph by SrA. Erin Babis

Flags representing the countries participating in the training exercise Arctic Fighter Meet 2016 were raised every day before the headquarters building, Bodø Main Air Station, Norway, May 24, 2016. Training regularly with other nations improves the U.S. Air Force’s interoperability with fellow air forces.

This training exercise allowed forward-based U.S. Airmen and aircraft from RAF Lakenheath to train with NATO Allies and European partners, building on skill sets and improving every nation’s ability to seamlessly work together.

“There are always challenges, that’s why we do training like this,” said Royal Norwegian Air Force Col. Baard Reidar Solheim, Bodø Main Air Station commander. “We are getting better every time. To have different types of jets work together from different nations, there will always be different things to think about and different ways of doing things.”

Training regularly with other nations improves the U.S. Air Force’s interoperability with fellow air forces and increases all NATO Allies and partner nations’ overall ability to respond to crises together.
 

Air Force photograph by SrA. Erin Babis

SrA. George Lopez, 492nd Aircraft Maintenance Unit crew chief, helps aircrew prepare for training exercise Arctic Fighter Meet 2016 at Bodø Main Air Station, Norway, May 25, 2016.

Air Force photograph by SrA. Erin Babis

Royal Norwegian Air Force members refuel two 493rd Fighter Squadron F-15 C Eagles during training exercise Arctic Fighter Meet 2016, Bodø Main Air Station, Norway, May 25, 2016.

Air Force photograph by SrA. Erin Babis

The Arctic Fighter Meet 2016 patch representing the countries and aircraft participating in the training exercise at Bodø Main Air Station, Norway, May 25, 2016.