An exclusive image of an American CV-22 Osprey that sits on the tarmac while awaiting to go on a mission 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 unique sight over Sweden. Two CV-22 Ospreys fly in formation to rendezvous with a C-130 Hercules to conduct Tilt-Rotor Air-to-Air Refueling 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.

A CV-22 Osprey conducts Tilt-Rotor Air-to-Air Refueling with a C-130 Hercules 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.

A CV-22 Osprey takes to the air on a mission September 11 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.