![noble defender](https://www.airforcemag.com/app/uploads/2022/03/7096588-300x154.jpg)
F-22 Raptors assigned to Alaskan NORAD Region fly over guided missile destroyer USS Curtis Wilbur during Operation Noble Defender in the Gulf of Alaska, March 16, 2022. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Joseph P. LeVeille.
![Noble Defender](https://www.airforcemag.com/app/uploads/2022/03/7096572-300x200.jpg)
An F-22 Raptor assigned to Alaska NORAD Region flies over the Gulf of Alaska during Operation Noble Defender, March 16, 2022. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Joseph P. LeVeille.
![Noble Defender](https://www.airforcemag.com/app/uploads/2022/03/7096569-scaled-300x200.jpg)
A B-52H Stratofortress, assigned to 2nd Bomb Wing, flies behind a KC-135R Stratotanker during Operation Noble Defender over the Gulf of Alaska, March 16, 2022. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Joseph P. LeVeille.
![Noble Defender](https://www.airforcemag.com/app/uploads/2022/03/7096568-scaled-300x165.jpg)
B-52H Stratofortesses and F-22 Raptors fly in formation during Operation Noble Defender over the Gulf of Alaska, March 16, 2022. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Joseph P. LeVeille.
![Noble Defender](https://www.airforcemag.com/app/uploads/2022/03/7096567-scaled-300x200.jpg)
B-52H Stratfortresses assigned to 2nd Bomb Wing fly behind a KC-135R Stratotanker over the Gulf of Alaska during Operation Noble Defender, March 16, 2022. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Joseph P. LeVeille.
![Noble Defender](https://www.airforcemag.com/app/uploads/2022/03/7096563-scaled-300x200.jpg)
An F-22 Raptor, assigned to Alaska NORAD Region, flies behind a KC-135R Stratotanker during Operation Noble Defender over the Gulf of Alaska, March 16, 2022. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Joseph P. LeVeille.
![Noble Defender](https://www.airforcemag.com/app/uploads/2022/03/7096550-300x200.jpg)
An F-22 Raptor, assigned to Alaska NORAD Region, flies over the Gulf of Alaska during Operation Noble Defender, March 16, 2022. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Joseph P. LeVeille.
![Noble Defender](https://www.airforcemag.com/app/uploads/2022/03/7096549-300x200.jpg)
An F-22 Raptor assigned to Alaskan NORAD Region is refueled by a KC-135R Stratotanker, assigned to 168th Air Refueling Wing during Operation Noble Defender over the Gulf of Alaska, March 16, 2022. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Joseph P. LeVeille.
![Noble Defender](https://www.airforcemag.com/app/uploads/2022/03/7096547-scaled-300x200.jpg)
An F-22 Raptor, assigned to Alaskan NORAD Region, is refueled by a KC-135R Stratotanker, assigned to the 168th Air Refueling Wing, during Operation Noble Defender over the Gulf of Alaska, March 16, 2022. U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Joseph P. LeVeille.
![Noble Defender](https://www.airforcemag.com/app/uploads/2022/03/7096546-scaled-300x169.jpg)
U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Chatham Holt, a boom operator with 168th Air Refueling Squadron, operates a KC-135R Stratotanker air refueling boom during Operation Noble Defender over the Gulf of Alaska, March 16, 2022. U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Joseph P. LeVeille.
![Noble Defender](https://www.airforcemag.com/app/uploads/2022/03/7096545-scaled-300x204.jpg)
U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Jason Park, a pilot with 128th Air Refueling Squadron, logs flight notes during a flight supporting Operation Noble Defender over the Gulf of Alaska, March 16, 2022. U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Joseph P. LeVeille.
![Noble Defender](https://www.airforcemag.com/app/uploads/2022/03/7096544-scaled-300x200.jpg)
Air Force Capt. Jonathan Vargas, a pilot with 128th Air Refueling Squadron, talks over the aircraft communication system during Operation Noble Defender in the Gulf of Alaska, March 16, 2022. U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Joseph P. LeVeille.
![Noble Defender](https://www.airforcemag.com/app/uploads/2022/03/7096543-300x200.jpg)
A KC-135R Stratotanker, flys over Denali during Operation Noble Defender near Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, March 16, 2022. U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Joseph P. LeVeille.
![noble defender](https://www.airforcemag.com/app/uploads/2022/03/7096542-300x200.jpg)
U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Erik Redl, a pilot assigned to 168th Air Refueling Squadron, flies a KC-135R Stratotanker during Operation Noble Defender over the Gulf of Alaska, March 16, 2022. U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Joseph P. LeVeille.