Icelandic Air Policing
Encyclopedia
Icelandic Air Policing is a NATO operation conducted to patrol Iceland's
airspace. As Iceland does not have an air force
, it requested that its NATO allies periodically deploy fighter aircraft
to Keflavik Air Base
to provide protection of its airspace in 2006. The first deployment of aircraft took place in May 2008.
(USAF) ceased deploying fighter units to Keflavik Air Base in September 2006, and the U.S. Iceland Defense Force
was withdrawn. Following the American withdrawal Russian Air Force
37th Air Army
aircraft entered Icelandic airspace on several occasions.
Prime Minister Geir Haarde
requested that Iceland's NATO allies assume responsibility for protecting Iceland's airspace during the Riga Summit
in November 2006. The North Atlantic Council
agreed to this request at its July 2007 meeting. The other NATO member states who lack the ability to patrol their own airspace have similar arrangements in place. In March 2008 Prime Minister Haarde denied that the air policing operation was targeting Russian aircraft, and stated that "it is going to be a general patrolling exercise. We consider Russia to be our friends, by the way".
mission, which involves the continuous presence of fighter aircraft from NATO countries at Šiauliai International Airport
in Lithuania, the Icelandic Government requested that NATO not maintain a permanent force at Keflavik. Instead, an average of three deployments are made per year, with each lasting from two to three weeks.
The first deployment of NATO fighter aircraft to Iceland began on 5 May 2008 when four French Air Force
Mirage 2000 fighters from EC 01.002 Cigogne
began patrols from Keflavik. This detachment returned home on 30 June. Subsequent deployments have included:
A planned deployment of four British Royal Air Force
Eurofighter Typhoon
s from No. 3 (F) Squadron
in December 2008 was cancelled as a result of the Icesave dispute between Britain and Iceland. Poland also cancelled a planned deployment of F-16 fighters to Iceland in 2010 due to the impact of the financial crisis of 2007–2010.
Fighter aircraft deployed to Iceland are accompanied by NATO Boeing E-3 Sentry AWACS aircraft to enhance the Iceland Air Defence System
radar network as well as other supporting aircraft as required.
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
airspace. As Iceland does not have an air force
Air force
An air force, also known in some countries as an air army, is in the broadest sense, the national military organization that primarily conducts aerial warfare. More specifically, it is the branch of a nation's armed services that is responsible for aerial warfare as distinct from an army, navy or...
, it requested that its NATO allies periodically deploy fighter aircraft
Fighter aircraft
A fighter aircraft is a military aircraft designed primarily for air-to-air combat with other aircraft, as opposed to a bomber, which is designed primarily to attack ground targets...
to Keflavik Air Base
Naval Air Station Keflavik
United States Naval Air Station Keflavik is a former NATO facility at Keflavík International Airport, Iceland. It is located on the Reykjanes peninsula on the south-west portion of the island...
to provide protection of its airspace in 2006. The first deployment of aircraft took place in May 2008.
Background
As Iceland does not maintain an air force, the country was left without means to patrol its airspace when the United States Air ForceUnited States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
(USAF) ceased deploying fighter units to Keflavik Air Base in September 2006, and the U.S. Iceland Defense Force
Iceland Defense Force
The Iceland Defense Force was a military command of the United States armed forces from 1951 to 2006. The IDF, created at the request of NATO, came into existence when the United States signed an agreement to provide for the defense of Iceland, which does not, and did not, have its own unified...
was withdrawn. Following the American withdrawal Russian Air Force
Russian Air Force
The Russian Air Force is the air force of Russian Military. It is currently under the command of Colonel General Aleksandr Zelin. The Russian Navy has its own air arm, the Russian Naval Aviation, which is the former Soviet Aviatsiya Voyenno Morskogo Flota , or AV-MF).The Air Force was formed from...
37th Air Army
37th Air Army
The 37th Air Army of the High Supreme Command was the strategic bomber force of the Russian Air Force from 1998 to 2009...
aircraft entered Icelandic airspace on several occasions.
Prime Minister Geir Haarde
Geir Haarde
Geir Hilmar Haarde was Prime Minister of Iceland from 15 June 2006 to 1 February 2009 and Chairman of the Icelandic Independence Party from 2005 to 2009. Geir initially led a coalition between his party and the Progressive Party...
requested that Iceland's NATO allies assume responsibility for protecting Iceland's airspace during the Riga Summit
2006 Riga summit
The 2006 Riga summit or the 19th NATO Summit was a NATO summit held in Riga, Latvia from November 28 until November 29, 2006. The most important topics discussed were the War in Afghanistan and the future role and borders of the alliance. Further, the summit focused on the alliance's continued...
in November 2006. The North Atlantic Council
North Atlantic Council
North Atlantic Council is the most senior political governing body of NATO established by Article 9 of the North Atlantic Treaty. The NAC can be held at the Permanent Representative Level , or can be composed of member states' Ministers of State, Defense, or Heads of Government. The NAC has the...
agreed to this request at its July 2007 meeting. The other NATO member states who lack the ability to patrol their own airspace have similar arrangements in place. In March 2008 Prime Minister Haarde denied that the air policing operation was targeting Russian aircraft, and stated that "it is going to be a general patrolling exercise. We consider Russia to be our friends, by the way".
Deployments
In contrast with the Baltic Air PolicingBaltic Air Policing
The Baltic air-policing mission is a NATO air defence Quick Reaction Alert in order to guard the airspace over the three Baltic states Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.-Mission:...
mission, which involves the continuous presence of fighter aircraft from NATO countries at Šiauliai International Airport
Šiauliai International Airport
Šiauliai International Airport is located 7 km southeast of the city of Šiauliai, in northern Lithuania. It covers an area of 471 hectares.- History :...
in Lithuania, the Icelandic Government requested that NATO not maintain a permanent force at Keflavik. Instead, an average of three deployments are made per year, with each lasting from two to three weeks.
The first deployment of NATO fighter aircraft to Iceland began on 5 May 2008 when four French Air Force
French Air Force
The French Air Force , literally Army of the Air) is the air force of the French Armed Forces. It was formed in 1909 as the Service Aéronautique, a service arm of the French Army, then was made an independent military arm in 1933...
Mirage 2000 fighters from EC 01.002 Cigogne
1/2 fighter squadron Storks
The 1/2 fighter squadron "Storks" is a French Air Force fighter squadron, currently stationed in 102 Dijon-Longvic Airbase...
began patrols from Keflavik. This detachment returned home on 30 June. Subsequent deployments have included:
- USAF F-15 Eagles from the 48th Fighter Wing48th Fighter WingThe 48th Fighter Wing is part of the United States Air Force Third Air Force, assigned to HQ Air Command Europe, and is based at RAF Lakenheath, England. The 48 FW is the only F-15 wing based in Europe...
made a deployment to Keflavik in September 2008 - Four Royal Danish Air ForceRoyal Danish Air ForceThe Royal Danish Air Force is the air force of Denmark with the capability to undertake homeland defense and homeland security roles as well international operations.-History:...
F-16 Fighting Falcons drawn from Eskadrille 727 and Eskadrille 730 (8–29 March 2010). This deployment included two ground intercept controllers from the Estonian Defence ForcesMilitary of EstoniaThe Estonian Defence Forces is the name of the unified armed forces of the Republic of Estonia. The Estonian military is a defence force consisting of Maavägi , Merevägi , Õhuvägi and a paramilitary organization Kaitseliit...
. - Six German LuftwaffeLuftwaffeLuftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
F-4 Phantom IIs from Jagdgeschwader 71Jagdgeschwader 71Jagdgeschwader 71 Richthofen is a Fighter Wing of the German Luftwaffe. JG 71 was West Germany's first operational jet fighter unit and is currently the last operational German fighter unit using the F-4 Phantom II aircraft.-History:...
(1–25 June 2010) - Eight USAF F-15 Eagles assigned to the 493rd Expeditionary Fighter Squadron (6–24 September 2010)
- Five Canadian Forces Air CommandCanadian Forces Air CommandThe Royal Canadian Air Force , formerly Canadian Forces Air Command, is one of three environmental commands of the Canadian Forces...
CF-188 Hornets from 409 Tactical Fighter Squadron (28 March–30 April 2011)
A planned deployment of four British Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
Eurofighter Typhoon
Eurofighter Typhoon
The Eurofighter Typhoon is a twin-engine, canard-delta wing, multirole combat aircraft, designed and built by a consortium of three companies: EADS, Alenia Aeronautica and BAE Systems; working through a holding company, Eurofighter GmbH, which was formed in 1986...
s from No. 3 (F) Squadron
No. 3 Squadron RAF
No 3 Squadron of the Royal Air Force operates the Typhoon F2, FGR4 and T3 from RAF Coningsby, Lincolnshire.No 3 Squadron, which celebrated its 95th anniversary over the weekend of 11-13 May 2007, is unique in the RAF for having two official crests....
in December 2008 was cancelled as a result of the Icesave dispute between Britain and Iceland. Poland also cancelled a planned deployment of F-16 fighters to Iceland in 2010 due to the impact of the financial crisis of 2007–2010.
Fighter aircraft deployed to Iceland are accompanied by NATO Boeing E-3 Sentry AWACS aircraft to enhance the Iceland Air Defence System
Iceland Air Defence System
The Iceland Air Defence System was founded in 1987.It operates four radar complexes, a software and support facility as well as a command and report centre....
radar network as well as other supporting aircraft as required.