Norwegian jets take on NATO’s peacetime preparedness mission over Iceland

  • 27 Jan. 2014 -
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  • Last updated: 27 Jan. 2014 19:17

Six Norwegian F-16 fighter jets touched down in Iceland on Monday (27 January) to take on NATO’s mission to provide airborne surveillance and interception capabilities to meet Iceland’s peacetime preparedness needs.

F16 jet fighters participating in the air-defence flying training event Iceland Air Meet 2014.

The deployment will both provide Iceland with a quick-reaction capability of fighter jets ready to scramble if required to conduct the peacetime NATO Air Policing mission, and ensure that Icelandic and NATO personnel are fully trained and experienced to support all future such deployments.

"The Norwegian Air Force is a highly capable and professional fighting force, and they add tremendous value to our collective defence posture,” said General Philip Breedlove, Supreme Allied Commander Europe.

The Norwegian jets will be deployed to Iceland until 21 February.

Starting on 3 February, in the context of Nordic Defence Cooperation (NORDEFCO), they will conduct a training event with fighter jets from partner countries Finland and Sweden, air-to-air refueling aircraft from the Netherlands and the United States, and Icelandic rescue helicopters and support staff.

The training event, ‘Iceland Air Meet 2014’, takes advantage of the Norwegian deployment, but will be fully separate from the peacetime-preparedness mission. At no time will the partner nations conduct air-policing duties or come under NATO operational command.

"NATO is looking forward to enhancing our relationship and interoperability with our partner nations Finland and Sweden during the Iceland Air Meet 2014,” General Breedlove said.