As reported yesterday, four Belgian Air Force F-16 fighters have relieved the Spanish Air and Space Force EF-18 Hornet combat aircraft to carry out NATO Air Policing missions in Iceland, marking the first time the Belgians have deployed to Keflavik Air Base. Since Iceland has no air force of its own, it relies on rotational deployments from NATO allies, making each handover a strategic milestone for the defense of the North Atlantic.
Like the Spanish detachment, the Belgian contingent will remain on Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) duty until September of this year. It should be recalled that the Spanish detachment deployed for the first time in July and began its withdrawal yesterday.
In this context, the fighter controllers will work closely with the Icelandic Coast Guard and the personnel of “Loki,” the Keflavik Control and Reporting Center, to protect NATO airspace in the Arctic region. The F-16s will operate in the GIUK gap, a strategically significant corridor between Greenland, Iceland, and the United Kingdom, frequently used by Russian bombers and submarines.
The objective of the Belgian deployment is to provide surveillance and air interception capabilities, ensuring Iceland’s operational readiness in peacetime (ASIC IPPN). To this end, the four F-16s and approximately 100 support personnel will carry out routine QRA interceptions, airspace surveillance and identification flights, as well as integrated training missions with NATO allies.
In the words of Major Artiges, Commander of the Belgian Detachment: “This deployment demonstrates our continued commitment to NATO’s Air Policing mission. It is our first time in Iceland, and we look forward to the challenging operating environment and the training opportunities it will bring us.”
It is important to note that throughout their operational service, Belgian F-16s have received substantial upgrades in avionics and enhanced defensive systems, allowing them to continue performing a wide range of missions until the future incorporation of the new F-35A stealth fighters, which will gradually replace them in service. Finally, according to NATO’s official press release, their presence in the region is expected to last until mid-September.
Photographs: NATO Air Command.
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