Germany sends fighter jets to Iceland for rapid deployment exercise

Europe, News August 9, 2023 , by IRIA No Comments

Germany has deployed its Eurofighter jets to Iceland to conduct an Agile Combat Employment (ACE). The German Air Force is conducting training in the High North and working with the Icelandic Coast Guard and other regional Allies from August 1 to 10, 2023.

German Air Force has deployed six Eurofighters aircraft, two A400M transport planes, and 50 personnel to the Keflavik air base from. The German Air Force squadron is conducting up to eight practice flights every day.

Commander of Keflavik Air Base Captain Jon B. Gudnason said, “We welcome the deployment of the German Air Force to Iceland as it provides an important opportunity for deepening our bilateral cooperation while underlining commitment to this strategic region.”

According to the NATO AIRCOM statement, the German detachment is preparing for the Rapid Viking 2023 exercise in Iceland. The statement highlighted that “The German deployment is a bilateral stand-alone training project. It is complementary to NATO’s enduring mission of providing Airborne Surveillance and Interception Capabilities to meet Iceland’s Peacetime Preparedness Needs (ASIC IPPN).”

“This enduring peacetime mission is specific and unique to Iceland ensuring that Allies maintain a periodic presence of NATO fighter aircraft at Keflavik to help keep Icelandic airspace secure,” the NATO AIRCOM statement added.

^{The German Air Force has started the deployment of a fighter capability to Iceland to conduct an Agile Combat Employment. (Image Credit: German Air Force)}

Commander of the German Eurofighter detachment, Lieutenant Colonel Marco Brunhofer said that the deployment of a 50-strong contingent with six Eurofighters to the High North “demonstrates Germany’s readiness and ability to swiftly employ an air power capability with lean structures to any location we are needed.”

He further added that “We are in Iceland for two weeks and intend to fly up to eight training sorties each day to familiarize with the Icelandic airspace and the staff of the NATO Control and Reporting Centre Keflavik who will tactically control our flying activities.”

German Lt. Col. Brunhofer emphasized that “The changed global security situation has had impacts on the High North, and against this background, the German Air Force makes a valuable contribution to Icelandic security and sovereignty and Alliance Deterrence and Defence.”

Lt. Col. Brunhofer said, “Air Forces are first responders and need to be able to swiftly and efficiently project air power. With the deployment under Rapid Viking, we generate a maximum operational footprint with minimum personal and material resources.”

^{German Air Force A400M pilots conduct maneuvers on the A400M transport aircraft. (Image Credit: NATO)}

Last week, Portugal and Romania’s detachments at Šiauliai, Lithuania, and the Royal Air Force detachment at Ämari, Estonia, ended their four-month NATO Air Policing mission in the Baltic region. Italy took over the responsibility from Portugal as Baltic Air Policing to secure skies above Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. While Spanish Air Force took over the air policing responsibility from the Royal Air Force Typhoon detachment.

First published on August 8, 2023. Updated on August 9, 2023.