Swedish Air Force JAS 39 Gripen fighter aircraft are now deployed in Iceland to strengthen NATO’s presence in the Arctic, as part of the Alliance’s Air Policing missions. The deployment is being conducted from Keflavík Air Base and forms part of the air defence and airspace surveillance framework in the North Atlantic, a region considered strategic to Euro-Atlantic security.
On Monday, 2 February, a group of six JAS 39 Gripens from the Skaraborg Wing (Skaraborgs Flygflottilj F 7) landed at Keflavík. The unit is responsible for NATO Air Policing incident-response readiness during February and March. The detachment—reinforced with personnel from other Swedish Air Force units—comprises just over 110 personnel and will operate continuously from Icelandic territory for the assigned period.
The deployment’s primary mission is to ensure incident-response readiness and the protection of Icelandic airspace, in coordination with NATO’s Air Policing framework. On this point, Lieutenant Colonel Johan Legardt, commander of the detachment and current flight commander of the fighter divisions at F 7, explained: “The main mission is very clear and involves Icelandic Air Policing, meaning incident readiness in Iceland to protect Icelandic airspace with fighter aircraft and air battle managers.”
NATO Air Policing in Iceland rotates periodically among the air forces of member countries, since Iceland—despite being a member of the Alliance—does not have its own armed forces. Historically, these missions have been linked to monitoring Russian strategic bombers transiting the region, which may pose a potential threat, a possible intrusion, or a violation of Iceland’s territorial integrity.
The Swedish detachment has prepared over an extended period for this operation, which is also considered an opportunity to introduce new operational approaches. From the planning stage, the various units involved assessed the possibility of implementing innovative methods that, even if not always reflected in current regulations, could prove applicable in the long term for future Alliance missions.
One of the main areas of innovation lies in the structure and management method of the contingent deployed in Iceland. The aim is to adapt the command system to the Air Force’s usual working practices, bearing in mind that this is a temporary unit without a classic, pre-established command model for this type of operation.
In that regard, Johan Legardt stated: “It fits perfectly, since a NATO Air Policing detachment is a temporary unit where there is no classic example of how it should be led. On the ground, we are developing a working method based on previous experience operating fighter units, with new ideas and innovation.” This approach seeks to improve operational efficiency and internal coordination during the deployment.
During the mission, the detachment will also seek to integrate space weather and space situational awareness into its command structure. The space domain is a relatively new area for the Swedish Armed Forces and, to date, it has not had clearly defined command pathways. The Swedish Air Force is the primary service responsible for this domain within the military instrument, which is gaining increasing relevance in the context of modern operations.
This deployment also takes place within Sweden’s integration into NATO’s new Joint Force Command (CFC) Norfolk, whose area of responsibility spans from North America to the borders of Finland and Norway with Russia. That command is responsible for the Arctic and the strategic transatlantic connection between Europe and North America—an essential محور for the Alliance’s collective defence.
On the importance of this region, the Swedish Armed Forces’ Chief of Joint Operations Staff, Vice Admiral Ewa Skoog Haslum, stated: “The Arctic is part of our new operational area in NATO and a strategically important area. It is a key piece in the Alliance’s defence and we know that Russia has ambitions in the Arctic. The fact that we are now contributing to the stability and security of the region shows that Sweden and the Armed Forces are taking responsibility in NATO’s shared air-defence tasks.”
The operation is conducted under the command of the Combined Air Operations Centre (CAOC) in Uedem, Germany, the body responsible for coordinating allied air operations in the region. NATO Air Policing incident readiness in Iceland will extend through March, consolidating Sweden’s presence in a mission considered key to the security of the Alliance’s northern flank.
Images used for illustrative purposes.
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