NORAD F-16s Deploy to High North Under Operation Arctic Vanguard

Sept. 17, 2026 | By Alaskan Command Public Affairs, Alaskan North American Aerospace Defense Command Region |

The Alaskan North American Aerospace Defense Command Region deployed F-16 Fighting Falcons from Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, to Goose Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, in support of Operation Arctic Vanguard 26-4.2. During this NORAD operation, Alaskan NORAD Region is operating directly alongside the Canadian NORAD Region to execute critical defense missions across the Arctic, Sept. 13-26.

Under Arctic Vanguard, NORAD personnel and aircraft will forward deploy into Greenland to execute operations in austere conditions alongside partners from Denmark and other NATO countries. This operation supports the NORAD and U.S. Northern Command Nordic Bridge concept, which aligns the commands' Arctic operations, exercises and training, activities and investments with other U.S. combatant commands, NATO, individual nations and regional partners.

"Operation Arctic Vanguard demonstrates that austere conditions and vast distances present no barrier to NORAD's collective defense," said Air Force Lt. Gen. Robert D. Davis, commander, Alaskan NORAD Region. "Deploying combat airpower from Alaska across Canada and forward into Greenland validates our agile combat capabilities and demonstrates our seamless integration with the Canadian NORAD region, the Kingdom of Denmark and our NATO allies. Together, we maintain continuous vigilance and credible deterrence across North America's northern approaches."

Operation Arctic Vanguard is part of a recurring series of NORAD and Northcom operations conducted across the North American Arctic region to enhance presence, operate from forward Arctic locations and defend North America's northern approaches.

Under the Nordic Bridge concept and efforts to bring orchestration to operations, activities and investments in the Arctic, Operation Arctic Vanguard enables more consistent presence of multinational forces in the region, operating in multiple domains and in varying locations.

Logistics is key at the Top of the World

by Tech. Sgt. Jared Marquis
21st Space Wing Public Affairs

8/11/2015 - THULE AIR BASE, Greenland -- THULE AIR BASE, Greenland - Logistics anywhere in the Air Force is all about planning. Making sure everyone has the supplies necessary to complete the mission. But what if the time frame for getting the majority of supplies is severely limited?

The Airmen at the Top of the World know exactly how that feels. With only a three month window to receive the majority of the supplies they will need to survive the long winter, the logistics Airmen at Thule Air Base, Greenland, work to ensure the Air Force's most remote base has everything it needs.

The busy season starts around the end of June each year, said 1st Lt. Douglas Ruark, logistics flight commander. That is when the port opens and ships start arriving.

The base receives, on average, a ship a week until the port closes in September, and then they are completely dependent on airlift until the port reopens in June.

Ships from Canada, Denmark and the U.S. deliver the much needed goods.

Not everyone in the Air Force gets to run a sea port and Ruark said it is a very unique experience.

"It's a very different aspect of Air Force logistics," he said. "There are not many places in the Air Force where you run a port. That's also compounded by the timing. The ships come in a couple months out of the year and you have to plan ahead. Anything you need, it's got to come on the ship because airlift is so expensive."

While some items still come by air, like food and household goods, the ships are the base's chance to get big items or heavy shipments to sustain the work done at Thule through construction season and the long winter, approximately 90 percent of their yearly supplies, he said.

Fuel is one of those needs, said Master Sgt. James Poulos, logistics flight superintendent and fuels coordinator.

Everything here runs on JP-8 aircraft fuel, said Poulos. That includes the vehicles and power plant.

To keep their tanks full, Poulos said they usually get a barge every year. To ensure they don't run out, they typically keep a three-year supply on hand, but the barge helps keeps their supply full in the event they miss a ship.

Flexibility is key, Ruark said. Nearly every ship or aircraft this summer has been either early or late.

In addition to planning for shipments and running the port, manning can be a challenge for the flight.

One of the biggest challenges with the Thule mission is the amount of logistics Airmen to accomplish it.

"In most logistics squadrons, you have 200 people," said Poulos. "Here, all our positions are one deep. So, we all need to have an understanding of each job so we can backfill that position when a person goes on leave."

Through that teamwork and planning, the logistics flight here ensures they take full advantage of their port window. Knowing that if they don't, they will either have to coordinate the more costly airlift, or wait for the next ship in June.

(Editor's note: This story is part 1 of a 4 part series about life at the Top of the World: Thule Air Base, Greenland.)