American B‑52 bombers steal spotlight in Arctic war games
Norway has organized large-scale military exercises involving the United States and the United Kingdom, using various aircraft, including fighters, bombers, and tankers. During these exercises, unusual photos of American B-52H long-range strategic bombers were captured.
The United States, the United Kingdom, and Norway recently concluded trilateral military exercises codenamed Apex Buccaneer, focusing on multi-domain tactics. The event, which took place on December 3, 2024, in the far north, brought together advanced military technologies and personnel from the three countries to test their ability to detect, track, and neutralize enemy targets in simulated combat scenarios, explains The Aviationist.
"Multi-domain integration is essential for leveraging the full spectrum of capabilities," emphasized Gen. James Hecker, commander of the U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Africa. Such cooperation ensures flexibility in responding to emerging threats, especially in contested regions like the Arctic.
American B-52s in unusual photos
The exercises featured some of the world's most advanced aircraft. The United States deployed B-52H Stratofortress bombers, KC-135 Stratotanker tankers, and U-2 Dragon Lady reconnaissance aircraft. The United Kingdom sent Eurofighter Typhoon fighters, RC-135 Rivet Joint reconnaissance aircraft, and F-35 Lightning II fighters, while Norway utilized aircraft such as the F-35 Lightning II and P-8 Poseidon, a maritime patrol aircraft. Special forces operating on the ground, directing precise strikes at targets on the Setermoen military range in Norway, also played a key role.
Of all the aircraft, only the B-52s dropped live ammunition, demonstrating their capability for precision strikes in Arctic conditions. Electro-optical/infrared sensors, such as the Wescam MX-20HD mounted on the Norwegian P-8A Poseidon maritime aircraft, captured images from this operation.
The American B-52s participating in Apex Buccaneer are part of the Bomber Task Force 25-1 mission, currently stationed at the British Royal Air Force Fairford. The mission, which began on November 8, 2024, is the second of its kind this year. The B-52H bombers currently used by the U.S. were created between 1960 and 1962.
These aircraft are nearly 164 feet long, 41 feet tall, and have a wingspan of nearly 187 feet. The B-52H bombers are equipped with eight Pratt & Whitney TF33-P-3/103 turbofan engines. They can fly at speeds exceeding 621 mph at a maximum altitude of over 49,213 feet. In takeoff configuration, the aircraft weigh 564,383 pounds, with over 68,345 pounds potentially allocated to armament and 399,036 pounds to fuel, providing a range exceeding 9,942 miles in the B-52H version.
