British and Norwegian F-35s Escort B-52 Taking Part in Exercise Global Thunder

A U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress taking part in STRATCOM’s annual Exercise Global Thunder staged a transatlantic global power mission, culminating in a link up with British and Norwegian forces in the High North.

British F-35Bs from HMS Prince of Wales, deployed on Operation FIRECREST as part of Neptune Strike 26-4, and Norwegian F-35As joined the B-52 over the cold waters of the High North on Oct. 24, 2026.

Flying from Minot Air Force Base, a single B-52 – callsign HUSH 11 – was supported by multiple aerial refueling tankers as it made its way across the Atlantic and back again in a single sortie. A second aircraft, HUSH 12, was planned to take part in at least some of the mission but this was scrubbed due to a technical issue.

0400z HUSH 11 x1 USAF B-52/H Stratofortress

Departed Minot AFB on a GPM mission, completed AR with #FLAM67-69 flight on AR-62E and routed North into the Nuuk/Reykjavik FIRs.

Only HF PosRep with Gander HF 8891 khz over 55W : https://t.co/JMy66qZqh4

— Andy (@Andyyyyrrrr) October 24, 2026

These long distance flights by U.S. strategic bombers are known widely as global power missions (GPM) and they are a common feature of Exercise Global Thunder, the beginning of which for this year was announced by U.S. Strategic Command (STRATCOM) on Oct. 22.

#StrategicDeterrence meets #AlliesAndPartners during #GlobalThunder27, merging capabilities & proving readiness together.

Our #CombatReadyForce will act, if directed, to guarantee the security of the nation & our allies.

#AlwaysReady https://t.co/yBQ55YaD7j

— Air Force Global Strike Command (@AFGlobalStrike) October 26, 2026

Global Thunder exercises are large-scale training programmes that see U.S. strategic forces and supporting units, alongside allied forces when invited, simulate the build-up to and execution of a nuclear war scenario. To reinforce the closeness of the simulation to a real world event, concurrent exercises see the rehearsal of logistics tasks, airfield defence, and casualty management.

This occasion marks the first time that British F-35s, which are jointly operated by the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy, have worked alongside a B-52.

Making history together

For the first time an American B-52 was escorted by British F-35s, whilst working alongside Norwegian F-35s. A milestone for the UK, USA and Norway, and another example of what can be achieved when allies work as one.

#StrongerTogether https://t.co/GjZ8RWj9kj

— UK Carrier Strike Group (@COMUKCSG) October 26, 2026

An official NATO statement read: “The milestone demonstrated the ability of UK, U.S. and Norwegian forces to integrate strategic airpower with advanced fighter capability across the High North.

For NATO, that integration matters: different nations, platforms and missions working together to strengthen interoperability, readiness and collective deterrence.”

A Royal Air Force Voyager was deployed to support the F-35Bs, while Norway’s boom-refueled F-35As received tanker support from a U.S. Air Force KC-135 stationed with the RAF Mildenhall-based 100th Air Refueling Wing (ARW).