Brunssum, The Netherlands:
Air Policing Mission Over Iceland
A US Air Force F-15 fighter detachment is deploying to
Iceland to conduct Air Policing missions within the framework of NATO’s defensive
air role in the High North.
“This routine deployment demonstrates Alliance solidarity and the
transatlantic linkage at work,” said US Air Force Brigadier General Andrew
Hansen, Deputy Chief of Staff Operations at NATO’s Allied Air Command. This
Command oversees Air Policing via two Combined Air Operations Centres (CAOCs).
“Air Policing is how the Alliance provides collective defence to its 30 member
states. This peacetime defensive mission ensures the same level of protection
to all Allies.”
This routine deployment demonstrates Alliance solidarity and the
transatlantic linkage at work
The
aircraft will be deployed to Keflavik Air Base on Iceland and will co-operate
with the Icelandic Coast Guard to secure Icelandic skies. NATO, in conjunction
with the Icelandic authorities, have agreed that the appropriate response is to
maintain a periodic presence of NATO fighter aircraft based at the Keflavik Air
Base to ensure the continued safety and sovereignty of NATO member state’s
airspace.
Upon
certification by the CAOC at Uedem, Germany, the US F-15 fighters will be on
24/7 alert to scramble for Air Policing missions under NATO’s Integrated Air
and Missile Defence plan.
Maritime Exercise Joint Warrior
NATO’s
major bi-annual multi-national maritime exercise began this week in the waters around
Scotland and will last until the 15 October. Planned and co-ordinated by NATO’s
European maritime Headquarters – MARCOM - in Northwood, UK, the exercise will
consist of anti-submarine warfare training conducted by surface warships,
submarines, and aircraft in coastal and offshore waters to the north,
north-west and west of Scotland. It is designed to test the maritime capabilities
of MARCOM and the participating units. Among other maritime assets, the Standing
NATO Maritime Group 1 (SNMG1), under the command of Commodore José António
Mirones from the Portuguese Navy, participates in the exercise. SNMG1 is
presently comprised of the four frigates: NRP Corte-Real from Portugal as
flagship; HMCS Toronto from Canada; BNS Leopold I. from Belgium; and HNLMS
Evertsen from The Netherlands.
Exercise Silver Arrow in Latvia
Exercise Silver Arrow was completed early this week in Latvia. Running
since 21 September, this exercise aimed to train the enhanced Forward Presence
(eFP) Battlegroups in the planning and conduct of tactical activities within a
major combat scenario in order to enhance command and control procedures, co-ordination
and mutual support during operations. This training allows NATO to be in a
state of constant readiness, always able to defend and deter any potential
threats to the member states on the Alliance’s eastern flank.
