“A B-2 Spirit bomber from Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., conducted a historic hot pit refueling at Orland Air Base, Norway on Aug. 29, 2023. The occasion marked the first time that the B-2 has landed in Norway, signaling the shared commitment between the US and Norway to deter threats and strengthen the NATO Alliance,” the squadron stated.
Hot pit refueling involves getting fuel to an aircraft immediately after landing and while one engine stays running, minimizing time spent on the ground. The ability to hot pit refuel in strategic locations provides the US and its allies the ability to increase combat air power over Europe, the statement said.
The refueling exercise highlights US-Norway cooperation and the ability of US forces to collaborate with partner nations to confront a broad range of global challenges, the squadron noted.
Three US B-2 Spirit bombers are forward deployed from Whiteman Air Force Base to Keflavik Air Base in Iceland in support of Bomber Task Force Europe 23-4, the statement added.