British F-35Bs flying from HMS Prince of Wales and Norwegian F-35As have escorted a United States Air Force B-52 over the High North during Exercise Global Thunder, the American nuclear readiness exercise, according to a post by Defence Operations.
The post said: “UK F-35Bs & @RoyalAirForce Voyager, with @Luftforsvaret F-35As, escorted a @usairforce B-52 on Exercise Global Thunder. Above @RoyalNavy & @Forsvaret_no vessels including @HMSPWLS. Operating together to defend @NATO’s northern flank.”
An RAF Voyager tanker supported the formation. HMS Prince of Wales is in the Arctic and North Atlantic on the second phase of Operation Firecrest, accompanied by the Type 45 destroyer HMS Dauntless and operating under NATO command, a deployment this publication covered as the ship sailed.
United States Strategic Command describes Global Thunder as an annual exercise involving personnel throughout the strategic enterprise, including its own components and subordinate units, and says the purpose of Global Thunder 27 “is to enhance nuclear readiness and ensure a safe, secure, effective and credible strategic deterrent force.”
The command added: “This is an annual exercise and is not in response to actions by any nation, other actors or current world events,” and that “as in previous years, Global Thunder 27 may include an increase in bomber and other aircraft flights throughout the exercise.”
Britain’s part in the American nuclear exercise comes as the country prepares to take on a nuclear role of its own in the air again. The Defence Investment Plan confirmed the purchase of twelve F-35A aircraft and British entry into NATO’s nuclear mission, which will return a nuclear task to the Royal Air Force for the first time since the WE.177 bomb was withdrawn in 1998. RAF Typhoons also escorted French Rafales simulating a nuclear strike over the Mediterranean last week on Exercise Rummy, the first British participation in a French nuclear exercise.
Norway operates fifty two F-35As from Ørland and Evenes and has become one of the closest partners in British operations in the High North, hosting Royal Marines for Arctic training and working alongside the carrier group through the Firecrest deployment.
