US, Swedish Forces Train for Arctic Rescues

In northern Sweden, the US Air Force’s 57th Rescue Squadron joined Swedish Air Force Rangers for intensive personnel recovery training from 30 March to 14 June. 

Originally part of the Arctic Challenge Exercise, the mission shifted to a bilateral operation focused on refining rescue capabilities in a strategically important region. The 57th RQS deployed a team of Tactical Air Control Party members, intelligence, communications, and SERE specialists from Aviano, Italy, to Ronneby, Sweden. Together with Swedish Rangers, they conducted full-mission profiles, developing tactics against counter-UAS threats and navigating complex infiltration scenarios.

Dense forests, swamps, and hills tested mobility and extraction techniques in realistic conditions. The training aimed to strengthen cooperation, improve adaptability in contested environments, and reinforce regional security through coordinated, agile response capabilities in the Arctic and Baltic regions.