Operation NOBLE DEFENDER and Bomber Task Force 25-2: Multinational Defense Exercise Concludes

The Noble Defender exercise involved the coordinated interception of a US B-52 bomber, with participation from the United Kingdom, Norway, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, and the Netherlands.

US/EUROPE - On March 17, 2025, the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) concluded an Operation NOBLE DEFENDER event, marking the final phase of a multinational training exercise designed to enhance interoperability and defense capabilities among allied nations.

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This event coincided with the completion of the U.S. Air Force’s Bomber Task Force (BTF) 25-2 deployment, during which four B-52H Stratofortress bombers and their aircrews returned to Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, after weeks of operations across Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.

The Operation NOBLE DEFENDER exercise involved a coordinated effort to intercept a United States Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM) B-52 bomber, with participation from the United Kingdom, Norway, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, and the Netherlands.

The NORAD-led portion of the intercept focused on integrating air defense assets from multiple nations to execute a layered defense strategy. This collaborative approach underscored NORAD’s mission to provide aerospace warning, aerospace control, and maritime warning in defense of North America while reinforcing partnerships to address shared security challenges.

During their deployment, the B-52s operated as the 69th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron out of RAF Fairford, United Kingdom, completing 13 operational missions with more than 20 Allies and partners, including air and land forces from Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.

NORAD/1st Air Force: NOBLE DEFENDER and Bomber Task Force Integration