Finland will deploy a detachment of four F/A-18 Hornet fighter jets and 50 airmen to Iceland, marking its first participation in NATO’s Icelandic Air Policing Mission.
This deployment, to take place in February 2025, is part of NATO’s principle of collective defence.
This principle includes member nations cooperating to maintain the security and integrity of allied airspace through missions such as Air Policing and Air Shielding.
Iceland, which lacks its own air force, relies on NATO allies for aerial surveillance and interception capabilities to meet its peacetime readiness requirements.
Finnish Air Force Major General Timo Herranen said: “Finland’s participation in NATO’s Icelandic Air Police mission will strengthen the Alliance’s presence in the northern part of the country. The deployment will be a concrete example of Nordic cooperation and the Finnish Air Force’s ability to carry out missions throughout NATO territory.
– The Norwegian and Danish air forces have regularly contributed to the air police mission in Iceland, so this is a natural task for Finland as well. It is in line with Finland’s goals that NATO has recognized the strategic importance of the northern regions.”
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By GlobalData
The Finnish contingent, drawn from the Lapland Air Wing and other air force units, will operate from Keflavík Air Base, where the Icelandic Coast Guard maintains the base and associated radar and communications sites.
Material and personnel transport, as well as the ferry of Hornets from Finland to Iceland, will take place this month.
Following a certification event by the Combined Air Operations Center Uedem, the Finnish branch will start working with Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) for a three-week period in February, in cooperation with Icelandic forces.
During their QRA period, the Finnish jets will be armed to their standard configuration for territorial surveillance in Finland, equipped with air-to-air missiles, cannons and countermeasures.
After the mission, the jet and most personnel will return to Finland, with all equipment repatriated in March.
This mission represents Finland’s third NATO deployment, following security operations at the NATO summit in Vilnius in July 2023 and participation in air policing and screening activities in Romania in summer 2024.
