Exercise Nordic Response 2024

Author: Ian French
Photography: Ian French, USMC, Royal Norwegian Air Force & Swedish AIr Force

Nordic Response was originally a Norwegian exercise called Cold Response, which took place every two years. With the expansion of NATO to include Finland and Sweden, this exercise has now evolved into Nordic Response which is a Norwegian led exercise with the aim of training NATO’s ability to defend and reinforce the alliance’s northern frontiers.

The scope of the exercise is enormous and included over 20,000 soldiers from 13 allied nations: Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom and the USA.

The exercise took place between the 3rd and 14th March 2024 in the far north of Norway, Sweden and Finland.

Nordic Response was actually part of a much wider and larger exercise called Steadfast Defender, NATO’s largest exercise since the Cold War, bringing together 90,000 troops and 32 countries.

Nordic Response had its focal point in northern Norway, Sweden, and Finland – as well as in the corresponding airspace and sea areas. There was a particularly high activity at sea with over 50 submarines, frigates, corvettes, aircraft carriers and various amphibious vessels. In addition, over 110 aircraft participated.

The key air bases used for deployments were:

Narvik-Evenes, Norway with USMC F-35B from VMFA542 MCAS Cherry Point

Andøya, Norway with USMC F/A-18C/D from VMFA312 MCAS Beaufort & KC-130J from VMGR252 MCAS Cherry Point

Bardufoss, Norway with Swedish Air Force JAS-39C/D from F17 Ronneby , Royal Navy Merlin from 845NAS RNAS Yeovilton & Army Air Corps Apache AH1 from 656 Sq at Wattisham

Rygge, Norway with NATO E-3A

Stavangar, Norway with USAF KC-135R from 168ARS Eielson AFB

Rovaniemi, Finland with USAF KC-135R from 100ARW RAF Mildenhall and German Air Force A400M from LTG62 Wunstorf

There were also a variety of ship based aircraft and helicopters involved including:

RAF F-35B from HMS Prince of Wales;
Italian Navy EH101 from ITS Giuseppe Garibaldi;
Dutch NH-90NFH from the HMNLS Karel Doorman group; and
Canadian Air Force CH148 from HMCS Charlottetown.

In addition, local aircraft and helicopters participated from Norway, Sweden and Finland.

Aviation Press would like to thank the Norwegian Air Force, Swedish Air Force, Finnish Air Force, US Marine Corps, Royal Navy and Army Air Corps, particularly the Media Departments, for their assistance with the content of this report.

5205 F-35A of 332Skv at Evenes

5288 F-35A of 332Skv at Evenes

5385 F-35A of 332Skv at Evenes

5665 F-35A of 332Skv at Evenes

39246 JAS39C of F17 at Bardufoss

39263 JAS39C of F21 at Luleå

39270 JAS39C of F17 at Bardufoss

39273 JAS39C of F17 at Bardufoss

39281 JAS39C of F17 taxiing out at Bardufoss

144048 NH-90TTH of 1Hkpskv at Bardufoss

145046 NH-90TTH of 1Hkpskv at Bardufoss

164880 FA-18D of VMFA312 at Andøya-Andenes

164969 FA-18C coded DR969 of VMFA312 at Andøya-Andenes

165227 FA-18C coded DR312 of VMFA312 at Andøya-Andenes

170064 F-35B coded WH01 of VMFA542 at Evenes

170066 F-35B coded WH03 of VMFA542 taxiing out at Evenes

170069 F-35B coded WH06 of VMFA542 at Evenes

170070 F-35B coded WH07 of VMFA542 taxiing at Evenes

170071 F-35B coded WH08 of VMFA542 at Evenes

170071 F-35B coded WH08 of VMFA542 departing Evenes

170073 F-35B coded WH10 of VMFA542 at Evenes

170276 KC-130J coded BH of VMGR252 departing Andøya-Andenes

ZJ215 Apache AH1 of 656 Squadron being towed out at Bardufoss

F-35s taxiing out at Evenes

165227 FA-18C coded DR312 of VMFA312 departing Evenes

165399 FA-18C coded DR399 of VMFA312 at Evenes

165687 FA-18D coded VE687 of VMFA312 departing Evenes

HN407 FA-18C of HavLLv31 at Andøya-Andenes

HN421 FA-18C of HavLLv31 at Andøya-Andenes

HN424 FA-18C of HavLLv31 taxiing out for a mission at Evenes

HN455 FA-18C of HavLLv31 taxiing out for a mission at Evenes

ZJ122 coded F & ZJ134 coded S Merlin HC4 of 845NAS hangared up at Bardufoss

ZJ122 Merlin HC4 coded of 845NAS at Bardufoss

ZJ134 Merlin HC4 coded S of 845NAS at Bardufoss

9583 P-8A of 333Skv at Evenesjpg

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