Norway’s F-35 stealth fighters conducting air surveillance mission in Iceland

Europe, News January 23, 2024 , by IRIA No Comments

Norway has deployed its four F-35 stealth fighter jets to the Keflavík Air Base for NATO’s air surveillance mission in Iceland. The fifth-generation jets will conduct Air Policing sorties until mid-February 2024.

Two of the four Norwegian F-35s will be on stand-by 24/7 at Keflavík Air Base ready to scramble to safeguard NATO and international airspace near Iceland.

According to the NATO AIRCOM statement, the F-35 jets’ air surveillance mission include training and alert scrambles “to identify unknown aircraft as a legitimate response to maintain territorial integrity of the NATO Ally in the High North”.

NATO Air Policing arrangements are supervised by Allied Air Command at Ramstein, Germany. Under the All NATO members collectively contribute to the Air Policing mission across the airspace in Europe.

The Royal Norwegian Air Force’s F-35 fighter aircraft carry out NATO missions from Evenes Air Base, located about 1400 kms north of Oslo, where they are ready to scramble jets 24/7/ throughout the year.

Since 2008, NATO Allies have been deploying fighter jets to Keflavík Air Base in Iceland on a rotational basis to train interceptors, provide protection of Icelandic airspace, and integrating the High North ally into NATO Air Policing.

Norway F-35 stealth fighter jet — *^{Norway sends its F-35s to Iceland to support the NATO mission in the country. It was the first Allied fighter deployment to Iceland in 2024. (Image Credit: Torbjorn Kjosvold/NATO AIRCOM)}*

Last year in October, NATO Military Committee Chair Admiral Rob Bauer visited Iceland and explained the implications of the new Regional Plan North. He said, “This plan specifically sees to the Atlantic and European Arctic, and falls under the command of our newest Allied Joint Force Command in Norfolk.”

Admiral Bauer further highlighted that “The increased competition and militarization in the Arctic region, especially by Russia and China, is concerning” for NATO and the Alliance must enhance deterrence and defense posture in the Arctic.

NATO’s Joint Force Command Norfolk aims to strengthen the Alliance’s force posture to support Arctic operations and provide greater Arctic defense coherence. “This ensures that forces and equipment can flow between the continents in conflict and peace and protects our freedom of navigation,” Admiral Bauer added.

In August 2023, the United States also deployed its Bomber Task Force to Keflavik Air Base in Iceland. The U.S. B-2 Spirit bomber aircraft improved NATO forces’ ability to integrate and enhance collective defence objectives, as well as strenghtened their readiness to engage in a wide spectrum of military operations.