Cold Response 2022
Cold Response 2022 (CR22) is a bi-annually NATO Norwegian led military exercise held in an arctic environment in Norway.
The exercise brings together thousands of troops from NATO Allies and partners, testing their ability to work together in cold weather conditions across Norway – on land, in the air and at sea.
Cold Response was first held in 2006. This year's exercise started on 14 March and ended on 31 March 2022. After two pandemic-cancelled exercises in 2020 and 2021, this year's exercise is extra important.
CR22 was already announced over eight months ago. The first allied troops already arrived in Norway in the autumn 2021 and winter 2021–22 to train and prepare for the exercise. It is a defensive exercise where Norway and its allies defend Norway against external threats. CR22 has been planned and informed about long before the war in Ukraine.
The exercise area was in south-eastern Norway, central Norway and the northern parts of the country. In the north, the activity mainly took place in northern Nordland County, and in the southern and inner region of Troms District. There will also be some military activity at Bodø Air Base and Porsangmoen Base.
A key goal of exercise Cold Response 2022 was to train on reinforcing Norway militarily to gain the knowledge and experience to operate under harsh winter conditions. To achieve this, naval and air capabilities played play a vital role in deploying Allied amphibious and land forces wherever needed.
The exercise had three phases. The first phase started with maritime drills in the Atlantic, the second phase focussed on air operations involving NATO aircraft, testing their ability to land on icy terrains. The third and last phase included amphibious landing and land battle training. The entire drill is aimed at ensuring that Norway has the capability to handle NATO deployments. CR22 participants consisted of 220 aircraft, 50 vessels and 30,000 troops.
After the exercise, the Pentagon announced the repositioning of 200 Marines from Norway to Lithuania as part of the ongoing US response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The Marines are part of Marine Air Control Group (MAG) 28, which is based in Cherry Point (NC). Additionally, about ten USMC F/A-18C/D Hornets from Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 312 Checkerboards ('DR-2xx'), stationed in Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort (SC) and an unspecified number of USMC KC-130J Hercules transport/tankers will head to eastern Europe.
The announcement, made on Tuesday 29 March 2022 comes a day after the US Department of Defence (DoD) send six US Navy EA-18G Growler electronic attack aircraft to Spangdahlem air base (Germany).
During CR22 a USMC MV-22B Osprey of Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 261 Raging Bulls ('EM-xx'), crashed near Gråtådalen, Beiarn, Nordland, unfortunately killing all four persons onboard.
Photos by Luftforsvaret, NATO Allied Air Command and US Navy