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NATO Allies Integrate for Bomber Task Force, Spanish Hornets on Iceland Air Policing Escort U.S. B-1Bs to Norway

NATO Allied Air Command

Aug 11 2025

RAMSTEIN, Germany -- U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancer bombers from Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, U.S., arrived at Ørland Air Base, Norway, on 9 August for the latest Bomber Task Force Europe deployment, integrating with NATO Allies for advanced training in warfighting capabilities and readiness.

On arrival in the North Atlantic region, the B-1Bs were escorted by Spanish Air and Space Force EF/A-18M Hornets operating from Keflavik Air Base, Iceland. The Spanish fighters are deployed on their first NATO Air Policing mission in Iceland, providing airborne surveillance, interception and quick reaction alert under the Alliance's integrated air defence framework.

During their stay, the long-range bombers will fly a series of Ally-led missions alongside Norwegian F-35 fighters and other NATO aircraft, practising high-threat air operations and refining skills in the find, fix, track and target process. Crews will also train to counter air and ground-based threats designed to deny their freedom of manoeuvre, enhancing the Alliance's readiness to secure air superiority.

"This deployment allows us to train the way we fight — integrated with our NATO Allies, ready and adaptive," said U.S. Lieutenant Colonel Eric Alvarez, 345th Bomb Squadron deployed commander.

"It's about building experience and trust together, enhancing readiness, and staying sharp in dynamic environments." Norweigian Lieutenant Colonel Tom Christiansen, acting chief of the 132 Air Wing at Ørland, added: "This type of training makes us better equipped to handle any challenges."

This is the fifth Bomber Task Force Europe deployment in 2025, demonstrating the United States' enduring commitment to maintaining a ready and capable forward presence. NATO's bomber integration missions underscore the Alliance's ability to operate across a range of domains, strengthen interoperability, and deter potential aggression.

By combining strategic bomber capabilities with Allied fighter escorts and operating in complex scenarios, NATO continues to reinforce its defensive posture, ensuring it can respond decisively to any threat to the Alliance.

Story by Allied Air Command Public Affairs Office