Fighter Jet You Don’t Normally See In Minnesota Spotted Over Duluth

Most people recognize the F-16s when they fly over Northern Minnesota and Wisconsin. That's what the 148th Air National Guard operates out of the Duluth Airbase. However, there was a different fighter jet recently spotted flying over Duluth.

The 148th posted pictures on their Facebook page of a joint training operation with F-35 fighter jets. The F-35 fighter jet is operated by NATO countries, including the United States. These pilots were not from the US, However.

Royal Norwegian Air Force F-35 Lightning II

The Royal Norwegian Air Force conducted fighter integration training. The pilots in their F-35 trained alongside the 148th F-16s. This is to improve "focused interoperability with our NATO allies. The 148th says events like this help develop the Minnesota National Guard state partnership with Norway.

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The Norwegian pilots were assigned to the 62nd Fighter Squadron at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona. Think of it like it's an exchange program with Norway. It helps prepare NATO for working together in the event of a conflict. Given the state of the world right now with the Russian-Ukraine war and fears of escalation in Europe, it's not a bad time to sharpen those skills.

The photos included shots of the pair of jets flying over Split Rock Lighthouse on the North Shore. Also included were photos of them over the Lift Bridge, Lake Superior, and the St. Louis River.