US concludes Northern Edge military drill with allies across Alaskan skies and seas

“Northern Edge takes the forces that would be fighting together, whether they are Air Force, Space Force, Army, Navy, or Marines, and allows them to develop and practice their tactics, techniques and procedures in the same way that they would were they to forward deploy in a simulated combat environment.”

The exercise included significant contributions from the US Navy’s USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) aircraft carrier as part of Carrier Strike Group Three. This group completed its segment after nine days operating in the Gulf of Alaska. The Royal Canadian Navy and Royal Canadian Air Force also participated fully alongside their American counterparts. Notable Canadian assets included an Airbus CC-150 Polaris refueler and Halifax-class frigate HCMS Regina.

A range of advanced aircraft took part in NE25 operations. These included USAF F-22 Raptors and F-35A Lightning IIs; Marine Corps F-35B jets; Navy F-35Cs; F/A-18E/F Super Hornets; as well as E/A-18G Growlers. Nine squadrons from Carrier Air Wing Nine logged over 3,000 flight hours with more than 1,100 sorties during the event.

Training covered defensive counter-air missions, maritime strike operations, and expeditionary scenarios across both Alaskan interior regions—spanning over 67,000 miles—and maritime areas extending another 44,000 miles into the Gulf of Alaska.

Organizers say NE25 focused on improving interoperability between US services while strengthening defense capabilities for North America’s Arctic frontiers. The presence of stealth fighter jets like the F-22s stationed in Alaska remains central to deterring potential threats in this strategic region.