NORAD said the operation strengthened its ability to deter, detect, and, if necessary, defeat emerging threats to North America’s northern air approaches, building on long-standing defence cooperation between the United States, Canada, and the Kingdom of Denmark. While the primary phase of the operation has ended, a contingent of personnel and aircraft will remain at Pituffik Space Base until the end of the week as redeployment activities continue.
During the exercise, NORAD formed a binational Air Task Force to operate from forward locations in Greenland, a practice described as a normal and established part of ensuring aerospace warning, aerospace control, and maritime warning. The operation demonstrated NORAD’s capacity to integrate fighter aircraft and supporting capabilities across multiple domains while preserving readiness for follow-on operations.
As in previous iterations, a Danish CL-604 Challenger aircraft was on standby to provide additional search and rescue capability during flight operations in the region. For the first time during Operation Noble Defender, the Royal Danish Air Force also carried out complementary and adjacent air defence activities, underscoring collective allied defence in the Arctic.
A total of 157 American and Canadian personnel took part in the operation, supported by aircraft including the CF-18 Hornet, F-16 Fighting Falcon, E-3 Sentry, KC-135 Stratotanker, KC-46 Pegasus, and CH-149 Cormorant. These forces were backed by maintenance, logistics, and command and control elements that enabled sustained operations in demanding Arctic conditions.
NORAD said operating from Pituffik Space Base provided additional flexibility to position forces in the northern approaches to North America and offered valuable experience in extreme environments. Personnel routinely conducted missions in temperatures of minus 13 degrees Fahrenheit, with wind chills as low as minus 36 degrees, while executing tasks safely and effectively.
“Operation Noble Defender highlights the strength of NORAD’s integrated American and Canadian team and our ability to operate effectively in the Arctic,” said Lieutenant Colonel Ryan Setter, the Air Task Force commander. “By bringing together personnel, aircraft, and capabilities from across all three NORAD regions, we continue to sharpen our readiness to defend North America.”
