USAF B-1B has spread its tentacles towards the arctic
On 8 March 2021, while one US Air Force B-1B Lancer roared into the Arctic Circle, MiG-31BMs practiced intercepting a simulated aircraft violating Russian airspace.
Late February 2021, four B-1Bs, from the Dyess based 9th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron, deployed to Ørland Main Air Station to train their objectives above the European Continent. See our news items of 18 January 2021 and 3 February 2021 on this deployment.
Scramble Magazine has learned that the exercises, with Norwegian, Swedish, Italian and German forces have been given different names.
The first week, after arrival, was labelled as exercise "Arctic Bone", while from the beginning of March the exercise was labelled as "Bone Saw". On 3 March 2021, two B-1Bs participated in Bone Saw, an ally training mission where aircrew integrated with Danish and Polish F-16 Fighting Falcons, as well as Italian and German NATO "Baltic Air Police" Eurofighter Typhoons.
One B-1B conducted a Bomber Task Force (BTF) mission in Norway and Sweden on 8 March 2021. During the flight, the Lancer, alongside US Special Operations Forces (SOF) members, provided critical support to Norwegian and Swedish Joint Terminal Attack Control (JTAC) training. As expected, the bomber conducted a “warm-pit refuel” at Bodø Main Air Station. Situated in the northern part of Norway, which is within the Arctic Circle. Although the engines were shut off, the crew stayed in the cockpit while the B-1B received fuel. I that way the aircraft and its crew were able to return to the mission more rapidly. The Lancer also integrated with four Swedish Saab JAS39 Gripens.
Almost simultaneously, and possibly related to the above mentioned BTF-mission, Russian pilots of the Pacific Fleet's Naval Aviation practiced intercepting a simulated aircraft violating Russian airspace above the Arctic Circle. The crews of Mikoyan Gurevich MiG-31BMs, which were on on Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) duty in Chukotka, blocked the path of the simulated intruder and prevented it from crossing the airspace borders of the Russian Federation. On 9 February 2021, Scramble Magazine wrote about Russian MiG-31 deployments in the Arctic Circle.
Currently, the deployment of four 7th Bomb Wing 'DY' coded B-1Bs (which is a mix of 9th Bomb Squadron and 28th Bomb Squadron aircraft), at Ørland consistst of the following aircraft:
Photos: USAF / Graphics: CIA