F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft assigned to the 18th Fighter Interceptor Squadron from Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, are prepared for a mission during Operation Noble Defender at Pittufik Space Base on January 30, 2025. TECH SGT. CHRISTOPHER RUANO/U.S. AIR FORCE
LT. COL. JOSEPH PICKENPAUGH, PE, PMP and LARRY PEPLINSKI, PE / USNORTHCOM and NORAD
Pituffik Space Base (SB), Greenland, is the northernmost U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) installation, located at about 76 degrees 5 minutes latitude, far above the Arctic Circle. The base plays a critical role in missile warning, space surveillance and satellite control as part of the United States’ strategic defense network. Its remote location provides an ideal vantage point for early warning systems and space operations, particularly due to its proximity to polar orbits and Arctic airspace.
In addition to its vital space mission, Pituffik SB is crucial in supporting United States Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) and North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) efforts to defend the U.S. homeland against threats approaching from northern airspace. The base hosts Canadian and U.S. Forces conducting operational campaigns with fighter aircraft. One such recurring mission, Operation Noble Defender (OND), demonstrates NORAD’s coordinated defensive capability, readiness and ability to deter competitor behavior. During this year’s iteration of OND, Canadian and U.S. forces deployed to Pituffik SB from January 28 to February 11, 2025, to demonstrate the capability and intention to defend North America from aerial threats. This planned deployment includes fighter aircraft, aerial refueling tankers, and personnel recovery assets from both Canada and the U.S. In addition to moving aircraft to Pituffik, teams of maintenance, defender and civil engineering personnel also are deployed to augment aircraft rescue and firefighting capabilities and install and operate mobile aircraft arresting systems. This deployment demonstrated the ability of troops and equipment to operate in harsh Arctic environments. The deploying teams worked closely with the 821st Space Group, which is permanently assigned to Pituffik SB. OND demonstrated how Canadian and U.S. Forces routinely deploy to austere Arctic forward operating locations (FOL) at high latitudes to conduct sustained, dispersed operations in defense of North America. Each consecutive OND validates and progresses the NORAD missions of aerospace warning and aerospace control.
Advancing Pituffik SB Infrastructure to Meet Strategic Needs
To improve its ability to support such critical operations, USNORTHCOM and NORAD initiated a study in 2019 at Pituffik SB, then known as Thule Air Base. This study resulted in an investment plan identifying key military construction (MILCON) and Facilities Sustainment, Restoration, and Modernization (FSRM) projects necessary to enhance operational readiness at the base. The study identified 10 facilities that were previously scheduled for demolition, and instead recommended they be converted into operational support and aircraft maintenance facilities at a fraction of the cost to build new infrastructure. After general-officer-level coordination, the Air Force agreed to retain the facilities per NORAD’s request.
The investment plan also encompasses several MILCON and unspecified minor military construction (UMMC) projects. These projects include upgrades to aircraft support infrastructure, airfield enhancements and facilities necessary for sustaining operations in the Arctic’s extreme environment. Key initiatives include:
- Runway Approach Landing System (MILCON): Install advanced approach lighting and navigational aids to enable bi-directional use of the base’s main runway to improve safety and operational flexibility in unpredictable Arctic weather.
- Aircraft Support Facilities (MILCON): Build infrastructure to support the operation and maintenance of fighter aircraft, including specialized shelters and taxiways.
- Munitions Storage Area (MILCON): Construct secure storage and maintenance facilities for mission-critical munitions.
- Reconstruct Large Frame Aircraft Ramp (MILCON): Repair and expand the ramp to support large-frame aircraft and improve operational capabilities.
- Jet Fuel Storage and Transfer Facilities (MILCON): Enhance fuel storage and distribution infrastructure to support increased operational tempo.
- Billeting Support Facilities (MILCON): Construct climate-controlled dormitories to house deployed personnel, ensure comfort and safety in the harsh Arctic environment.
- Network Operations Center (UMMC): Construct state-of-the-art data and communications facility to enhance strategic air defense and support fifth-generation fighter operations.
- Reconstruct Taxiway D (MILCON): Add a full-length parallel taxiway to Runway 8-26 to improve aircraft movement and access to refueling and parking areas.
- Fuel Cell Maintenance Hangar (MILCON): Construct a hangar for specialized fuel cell maintenance on large- and small-frame aircraft.
- Hangar Repair for Personnel Recovery Operations (FSRM): Renovate an existing hangar to support personnel recovery missions, including upgrades to structural and operational systems to withstand Arctic conditions.
- Hangar Repair for Refueling Operations (FSRM): Upgrade a second hangar to support aircraft refueling operations, with a focus on improving infrastructure to meet mission requirements.
These projects help improve operational capacity while preparing the base for future mission demands as Arctic geopolitics evolve.
Design and Construction Challenges
Construction at Pituffik SB presents unique logistical and environmental challenges. As with other remote island installations, nearly all construction materials must be transported via barge. However, the base’s seaport is accessible only during the summer months before Arctic ice forms, further constraining the construction timeline. Also, the outdoor building season itself is limited to just a few months each year.
Another significant challenge is the region’s permafrost. Frozen soil provides a stable foundation for construction, but as it thaws, it loses its load-bearing capacity. Engineers must either excavate and replace the soil or employ specialized techniques to keep it frozen, ensuring structural integrity over time.
The collaborative efforts of the 821st Support Squadron, 21st Civil Engineer Squadron, Air Forces Northern, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), USACE Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC), Air Force Civil Engineer Center (AFCEC), NORAD, USNORTHCOM and other stakeholders have been instrumental in overcoming these obstacles.
Progress and Future Goals
USNORTHCOM and NORAD secured funding for design charrettes for two hangar repair projects in fiscal year 2024. These charrettes will deliver a full design for the personnel recovery hangar and a partial design for the refueling hangar renovation. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers New York District is overseeing the project development, with technical expertise provided by the Baltimore District and USACE-ERDC’s Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory (CRREL) to address engineering complexities.
Also, the design for the Runway Approach Landing System, another MILCON project, is nearing completion under the supervision of AFCEC and the USACE New York District, with valuable input from CRREL to address Arctic-specific construction challenges.
Every year, USNORTHCOM and NORAD advocate for these and other Pituffik projects before the Global Posture Executive Council (GPEC), a DOD body responsible for aligning military resources with strategic priorities. The consistent support of the GPEC and other Combatant Commands underscores Pituffik SB’s strategic importance.
Building Toward a More Secure Future
The modernization of Pituffik SB is a testament to the dedication of NORAD and Canadian and U.S. Forces to maintain a persistent presence in the Arctic in support of Arctic campaigning. OND supports the 2024 DOD Arctic Strategy and 2024 Our North, Strong and Free: A Renewed Vision for Canada’s Defence. Despite the challenges posed by its Arctic location, the combined efforts of engineers, planners and military leaders are steadily transforming the base into a hub capable of defending the northern approaches. With continued investment and advocacy, Pituffik SB not only will maintain but also expand its vital role in protecting the U.S. homeland from emerging threats.