On Trump’s election day, a nuclear-capable B-52 bomber flew over northern Norway into Finland for training
As the Americans voted in the presidential elections on November 5, several long-range B-52 strategic bombers from Barksdale air force base in Louisiana were deployed to Europe.
One of them conducted a training mission over northern Finland, NATO Air Command reports on X. The Finnish Air Force posted photos of one of their F/A-18 Hornet fighter jets flying together with the American bomber.
“The bomber entered Finnish airspace from the north and exited via the Gulf of Bothnia,” Finnish Air Force said.
Norwegian military confirms to the Barents Observer that the flight path included northernmost Norway.
“We can confirm that the American B-52 flew through Norwegian airspace on its way to Finland on Tuesday,” says spokesperson Henrik Omtvedt Jenssen with the Joint Headquarters.
“The USA is Norway’s most important ally and their presence, including the B-52, is an important contribution to the security of Norway and the Nordic region. Exercise and training from NATO in Norway and the Nordic countries is of great importance for Norway’s defense capability,” he said
There were no Norwegian fighter jets following the B-52 while inside the country’s airspace.
Finland has not made public information about how close to the Russian border in the north the training took place.
Both Finland and Sweden joined NATO after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The flight on Tuesday is the second time U.S. strategic bombers train together with the Finnish Air Force.
The B-52 aircraft was the 60-0008, which is one of the 46 operative nuclear-capable bombers.
The two first B-52 bombers on mission over Lapland in July this year were not nuclear-capable.
“Capable” does not mean that the aircraft carries nuclear weapons.
Finnish air force says the plane exited Finnish airspace out over the Bay of Bothnia, the northern arm of the Baltic Sea. From there, the flight likely continued into Sweden and possible Norway/Denmark in the south before arriving returning to a British airbase.
A U.S RC-135 signal intelligence plane were also on November 5 flying Norwegian and Finnish airspace, north to the Barents Sea and returning south over Lapland to the Baltics.
Related stories from around the North:
Canada: Canadian military says it has tracked, stopped China surveillance in Arctic waters, The Canadian Press
Finland: Northern transport links must be improved for security reasons says Finland, Yle news
Denmark: Nordics consider joint procurement of infantry fighting vehicle, The Independent Barents Observer
Iceland: Arctic allies meet in Iceland to tackle growing security challenges, climate, Eye on the Arctic
Norway: Norway defence budget to ensure armed forces strong enough to deter Russia, The Independent Barents Observer
Russia: Russia says it has no illusions about Trump, will robustly defend its interests, Thomson Reuters
Sweden:Government ‘prepared’ for a Trump win, Swedish FM, Radio Sweden
United States: Alaska elections officials hope to avoid rural voting problems, as seen in primary, Alaska Public Media
