Special force Soldiers wait for the crew to allow them to board a CV-22 Osprey to conduct fast rope training September 12 in Sweden during the Swedish exercise Aurora 2017.

A unique sight in Sweden. A U.S.Air Force CV-22 Osprey pilot performs air-to-air refueling with an MC-130J Commando II, September 15 in Sweden during the Swedish exercise Aurora 2017. Aurora 2017 was designed to increase the national and joint military capabilities necessary to protect the Swedish homeland and was the country’s largest military exercise in more than 20 years. More than 19,000 personnel from Sweden participated in the exercise alongside an estimated 1,500 personnel from Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, and the United States.

CV-22 Osprey flying through the foggy skies of Sweden September 15 in Sweden during the Swedish exercise Aurora 2017. Aurora 2017 was designed to increase the national and joint military capabilities necessary to protect the Swedish homeland and was the country’s largest military exercise in more than 20 years. More than 19,000 personnel from Sweden participated in the exercise alongside an estimated 1,500 personnel from Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Lithuania, Latvia, Norway, and the United States.



The Ospreys that participated in the exercise made history by operating on Swedish soil for the first time in tilt rotor history. The aircraft belonged to the 7th Special Operations Squadron, 352nd Special Operations Wing, Special Operations Command, RAF Mildenhall.

A CV-22 Osprey conduct Tilt-Rotor Air-to-Air Refueling while receiving commands from a C-130 Hercules crewman September 14 in Sweden during the Swedish exercise Aurora 2017. Aurora 2017 was designed to increase the national and joint military capabilities necessary to protect the Swedish homeland and was the country’s largest military exercise in more than 20 years. More than 19,000 personnel from Sweden participated in the exercise alongside an estimated 1,500 personnel from Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Lithuania, Latvia, Norway, and the United States.

Air Force pilot of a CV-22 Osprey performing air to air refueling with a C-130 September 15 in Sweden during the Swedish exercise Aurora 2017. Aurora 2017 was designed to increase the national and joint military capabilities necessary to protect the Swedish homeland and was the country’s largest military exercise in more than 20 years. More than 19,000 personnel from Sweden participated in the exercise alongside an estimated 1,500 personnel from Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Lithuania, Latvia, Norway, and the United States.