Royal Air Force (RAF) F-35B fighter jets from 617 Squadron, Marham, United Kingdom, have deployed to Iceland to commence NATO’s Air Policing mission. This is the first time British F-35s will have taken part in any NATO air policing mission. The F-35Bs will defend NATO airspace in the Arctic Region and provide Airborne Surveillance and Interception Capabilities to meet Iceland’s Peacetime Preparedness Needs – or ASIC IPPN. The last deployment for British jets in Iceland was 2019, when four Typhoon jets flew 59 training sorties and more than 180 practice intercepts.

“The UK is unshakeable in its commitment to NATO. With threats increasing and growing Russian aggression, it is vital that we stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies. This latest air policing mission in Iceland displays the UK’s ability to operate and deter our adversaries across the alliance’s airspace,” said Luke Pollard, the United Kingdom’s Minister for the Armed Forces, in a recent address.

Group Captain John Butcher, F-35 Lightning Force Commander, stated, “This will be the first time the Lightning Force has deployed to contribute to NATO Air Policing, and will no doubt once again prove the flexibility that this platform offers as it demonstrates its capability to operate from both a land and maritime environment.”

In British service the aircraft is known only as F-35B Lightning, losing its ‘II’ (it is actually the RAF’s third Lightning, after the Lockheed P-38 and English Electric Lightning). The first frontline Lightning unit, 617 Sqn ‘Dambusters’ arrived at RAF Marham with an initial four aircraft on June 6, 2018. The F-35 Lightning is held at high readiness to deploy in support of UK and NATO operations worldwide – from both land and sea.​ It is a multi-role combat aircraft equipped with advanced sensors, mission systems and low observable stealth technology. This means that enemy radar systems cannot easily detect the aircraft, giving those nations operating the F-35 a significant tactical advantage in many operational scenarios.

Following a successful mission in Romania, where six Typhoon fighter jets and over two hundred personnel were operating from Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base, defending NATO’s eastern border, the RAF now moves to Iceland demonstrating the United Kingdom’s cast-iron commitment to NATO. Since 2008, Allies have conducted air surveillance missions over Iceland, as part of NATO’s commitment to Iceland’s security and defence, which preserves the security of Allied skies. It is a collective task and involves the continuous presence of fighter aircraft and crews, which are ready to react quickly to possible airspace violations.