US B-1B Lancer joins NATO air defense drills in the Baltics

A US Air Force B-1B Lancer bomber participated in military exercises over Lithuania and Latvia on September 29, 2026. This mission represents the first deployment of a US bomber under NATO’s updated air defense strategy, known as the ‘Flexible Deterrent Option’.

Organized by NATO Allied Air Command (AIRCOM), the exercise simulated integrated air and missile defense through ‘red vs blue’ combat scenarios. The multinational operation included German and Italian Eurofighters, Spanish F/A-18 Hornets, and Turkish F-16s. Support was provided by Italian KC-767A tankers and Airbus A330 MRTT aircraft, with ground support from Latvia and Spain.

The exercise tests a new operational framework designed to harmonize command-and-control procedures across the Alliance. This framework aims to protect NATO airspace against diverse threats, including crewed aircraft, drones, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles, transitioning the traditional air policing mission into a more comprehensive air defense posture.