Extensive Training Activity in the High North With US Carrier Strike Group
The Norwegian frigate HNoMS Thor Heyerdahl accompanies USS Gerald R. Ford off the Norwegian coast. The aircraft carrier is nuclear-powered, 333 meters long, 76 meters high, and 78 meters wide. On board is a crew of around 4,500 people, and room for around 90 aircraft and helicopters. (Photo: Edward Valentin Coates/the Norwegian Armed Forces)
The USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group has recently been training with Norwegian and other allied forces off the coast of Northern Norway. "Our partnership with US forces is close despite changes in US security policy," says the Chief of the Norwegian Joint Headquarters.
The USS Gerald R. Ford, the US' largest aircraft carrier, and its strike group have now operated with the Norwegian Armed Forces in the High North for several weeks.
The Chief of the Norwegian Joint Headquarters, Vice Admiral Rune Andersen, considers the significance of this co-exercise.
"The NATO alliance and the US are the core of our national defense. Norway and the Armed Forces' ability to receive allies is crucial to the defense of Norway and the Nordic region. If we are to function well together in a possible crisis or war, it is imperative that we exercise together in times of peace," says Andersen and continues:
"Our partnership with US forces is close despite changes in US security policy, and it is based on shared interests in having control in the High North."
Chief of the Norwegian Joint Headquarters, Vice Admiral Rune Andersen. (Photo: Odin Kjendalen/the Norwegian Armed forces)
New building block
This is the USS Gerald R. Ford's second visit to Norway and voyage in Northern Norwegian waters. In 2023, the aircraft carrier trained with Norwegian and British forces in Vestfjorden.
In 2024, the American aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman and its strike group also trained with Norwegian forces off the coast of Northern Norway.
"What we're doing is a building block on the last years of our US Carrier Strike Groups' work off the coast of Norway and in the High North seas with the Royal Norwegian Navy," says Rear Adm. Paul Lanzilotta, commander of Carrier Strike Group Twelve.
"This consistent teamwork has fostered a strong and enduring relationship between our two navies. Our mutual understanding of each other's naval priorities, perspectives, and methods ensures efficient and effective work whenever we operate together," he continues.
Last week, Lanzilotta flew directly from the aircraft carrier to visit Vice Admiral Andersen and the Norwegian Joint Headquarters at Reitan outside Bodø, Northern Norway.
An F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter from the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford during joint training with the Norwegian Army at the Setermoen firing range in inner Troms, Northern Norway. Here, an artillery battalion operates the Norwegian Manoeuvre Air Defense System (NOMAD). (Photo: Ole-Sverre Haugli/the Norwegian Armed Forces)
Diversified activities
The USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group has partially split into two and sailed in different areas off the coast of Northern Norway.
The aircraft carrier and the destroyer USS Winston S. Churchill have operated in the Norwegian Sea off the coast of Nordland and conducted co-training with the Norwegian Air Force. The aircraft carrier's air wing has also trained with the Norwegian Army in inner Troms, Northern Norway.
Furthermore, the destroyers USS Bainbridge and USS Mahan, accompanied by the support vessel USNS William McLean, led an allied surface action group that conducted training activities and operations in the Barents Sea off the coast of Finnmark.
In this group, Norway participated with the frigate HNoMS Thor Heyerdahl, the logistics vessel HNoMS Maud, P8 maritime patrol aircraft, and F-35 fighters. France took part with the frigate FS Aquitaine and the tanker FS Somme (operating under national authorities), and Germany with the frigate FGS Hamburg (operating under NATO's Maritime Command).
"Through our ability to cooperate and integrate capacities between domains and NATO nations, we have a major military advantage against Russia. Allies train, exercise, and operate regularly in Norway to be able to operate in all seasons in major crises or war. This contributes to collective security and deterrence for future attacks on Norway and the Nordics," the NJHW Chief points out.
The American destroyer USS Bainbridge (left) and the Norwegian frigate HNoMS Thor Heyerdahl off North Cape on the coast of Finnmark. (Photo: Edward Valentin Coates/the Norwegian Armed Forces)
Professional Russian behavior
The allied activity in the Barents Sea was followed by Russian vessels and aircraft, the Norwegian Armed Forces informs.
"It is completely normal for the Russians to show interest in this type of activity, just as we keep watch when the Russians exercise and train in the area. The Russians' behavior has been professional and in line with the INCSEA agreement between Norway and Russia," says Andersen.
The Incidents at Sea (INCSEA) agreement is to prevent dangerous incidents from occuring when Norwegian and Russian military ships and aircraft operate immediately near one another. Russia and the US have an equivalent agreement.
Submarine searches
As previously reported by High North News, US, Norwegian and British P-8 maritime patrol aircraft conducted a major search operation off the coast of Lofoten, where the USS Gerald R. Ford was located, at the end of August.
This took place after three Russian Yasen-class submarines had departed from their base on the Kola Peninsula.
Whether the Russian submarines were sailing in the direction of the aircraft carrier or the Allied maritime patrol was conducted as a preventative measure is not known. The Norwegian Armed Forces has not remarked on this activity.
