The Royal Air Force’s 617 Squadron is currently deployed in Iceland as part of Operation Masterer, contributing to NATO’s air policing mission by providing what has been described as “critical airpower.”
According to a recent announcement from the RAF, this mission marks the first time British F-35B Lightning jets have been stationed in Iceland for such a task, underlining the UK’s commitment to maintaining the security of NATO’s airspace in the Arctic region.
As Operation Masterer continues, 617 Squadron continue to strengthen ties with Iceland, providing critical air power. 🇮🇸
Watch the video to find out more about our most recent @NATO Air Policing mission and how this relationship is set to last.#StrongerTogether #WeAreNATO pic.twitter.com/201WQTqpol
— Royal Air Force (@RoyalAirForce) August 21, 2024
This deployment follows a successful mission in Romania, where RAF Typhoons defended NATO’s eastern borders. Now, the F-35Bs from RAF Marham have taken on the responsibility of patrolling Icelandic skies, part of NATO’s permanent peacetime mission aimed at deterring airspace violations.
The mission is notable as it is the first deployment of British jets to Iceland since 2019, when Typhoon jets last performed a similar role.
The F-35B’s advanced sensors, mission systems, and stealth technology provide a significant tactical advantage, making it an ideal platform for NATO air policing, say the RAF.
“This will be the first time that 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,” said Group Captain John Butcher, Lightning Force Commander.
Minister for the Armed Forces, Luke Pollard, also highlighted the strategic importance of the mission, stating, “This latest air policing mission in Iceland displays the UK’s ability to operate and deter our adversaries across the alliance’s airspace.”
True headline – just need more of them – CBE
One wonders how much of the pilot shortage we have is due to the massive demand placed on pilots to perform multi role. We have gone from an environment where most aircraft were two seaters and where either performing ground attack or air to air missions to an environment where every aircraft in the RAF is single seat and every aircraft and pilot is now expected to carry out air to air and ground attack missions. I’m presuming this must have massively increased training and certification requirements.
Multirole fighters have been in use since the 1930’s. It’s literally just the training pipeline breaking down and failing with zero accountability. It never should have been outsourced.
That’s not accurate, swing role fighters like Typhoon and F35 are a very new concept. Older planes like Tornado GR3/F3 or F15 ABCDE or mosquito came in different variants able to carry out air to air missions or ground attack but it’s was not with the same aircraft until relatively recently.
Two Basic FTS, No1 and No7, reduced to a single FTS, No1 at Linton on Ouse.
That was then closed, and now a SINGLE Squadron in 4FTS does the basic training role.
170 odd Tucano down to just 9 Texans.
I believe another 5 have been sourced, but it’s frankly embarrassing.
The RN had a large number of operational pilots that were very current but it looks like that no one in the MOD thought of getting them converted over to F35’s (many were on exchange with Allies around the World)when they should have and much of that could have been done in the USA before bringing over the OCU to the UK. The lack of planning in the greater MOD and future looking has caused the issues the Forces are struggling with.
Baffles me how UK can be basic training future Ukrainian F-16 pilots when that training capacity is barely fit for UK pilots?
I’m glad that UK are basic training future Ukrainian F-16 pilots but since RAF don’t operate the type, I expect they are soon off to the other nations who do, and presumably kept training for it in place despite moving to F-35.
Maybe the Ukrainian pilots selected for UK training are in most need of English language skills…
Is their training basic or elementary?
There’s a level below Texan BFT using Tutors of 1 EFTS and the UASs.
Maybe some are at the lower level then they go elsewhere for next stage?
A role that could not have been performed by Tornado GR4 or Harrier GR7/9. We have gained another platform capable of air dominace.
The SHAR was a multi role fighter and the crews trained in all aspect of the weapons systems use and excelled in most toom but service politics killed those off.
Given the few F-35B that we have, absolutely and compared to Typhoon numbers, why does Air Policing / QRA make any sense for 617 Squadron?
Isn’t the whole point of stealth to see and not be seen, while engaging beyond range, so going in close to lost bears just gives them a chance to acquire F-35B data?
Like us sending RC135W Rivet Joint to listen to Su-57…
A good point that occurred to me. Maybe the RAF was them to be more visible.
You don’t think they have to do QRA and air policing when they are based on the carrier?
When F35’s are used for air policing they carry a lunberg lens that reflects radar and changes their radar signature so the enemy can’t capture any tracking details.
I wouldn’t know but I suppose that freedom of navigation operations in international waters does mean that anyone can approach the CSG, sometimes to make a point. So keeping snoopers away is going to be like QRA, whatever it’s called.
Ah, good to know, so the deliberate measure prevents anyone knowing the Radar Cross-Section i.e. Stealth performance.
Speak to anyone who had to do bombing with the SHAR, it wasn’t really a multi role fighter in the modern sense.
Just a shame we are about 200 short and the pilots to go with them. Short sighted UK government could signal the end of life as we know it if they dont pull their heads out of the sand.