The Spanish Air and Space Force has deployed six EF/A-18M Hornet fighter jets to Iceland in support of NATO’s Air Policing mission, marking the country’s first deployment to Keflavik Air Base for this task.
Operating under NATO’s integrated Air Policing framework, the Spanish detachment will provide Airborne Surveillance and Interception Capabilities to meet Iceland’s Peacetime Preparedness Needs (ASIC IPPN). The deployment reinforces NATO’s collective defence posture and highlights Spain’s continued contribution to Allied deterrence.
“We are fully committed to NATO’s Air Policing mission,” said Lieutenant Colonel Ichaso.
“We are pleased to be in Iceland for the first time, and we stand ready to secure the skies and ensure a credible deterrence posture.”
The deployment includes six EF/A-18M Hornets, tactical support personnel, and associated logistics. The Spanish jets, supported by a French A330 MRTT tanker during their transit, will carry out quick reaction alert (QRA) duties, surveillance flights, identification missions and training sorties with Allied partners in the region.
This deployment to Iceland coincides with Spain’s ongoing presence in Lithuania, underscoring what NATO described as a “steadfast commitment” to the Alliance’s Air Policing efforts.
NATO has maintained routine air policing missions over Iceland since 2008, ensuring that Allied aircraft and crews are ready to respond to any airspace violations in the High North. The Spanish deployment adds further depth to this rotational presence, which remains a core pillar of NATO’s peacetime posture in the North Atlantic.
Pity the Spanish have only recently commited to spending just 2% of GDP on NATO. They are more interested in causing trouble over Gibraltar than defending Europe from barbaric Russian aggression
Agreed.
Agreed
5 per cent.. get busy
Agreed.
Agreed
What’s your opinion on the matter Graham? I’d be really keen to know if you agree or disagree. Eagerly awaiting elucidation.
Takes the weight of the airforce.
Agree and if something goes bang or even just moves thay will leg it anyway.
NATO & EU both have the same fundamental flaw, you can voluntarily leave but you can’t be kicked out, the EU has a mechanism to suspend membership but it’s so convoluted it’s never been done. This means in practice a country can get away with sticking 2 fingers up at the majority but then actually benefit by threatening to block EU business if they even start the process.
Fact is Spain isn’t meeting the New NATO target, applying for cheap loans from the EU defence fund, it’s nuts !
NATO & EU both have the same fundamental flaw, you can voluntarily leave but you can’t be kicked out, the EU has a mechanism to suspend membership but it’s so convoluted it’s never been done. This means in practice a country can get away with sticking 2 fingers up at the majority; but then actually benefit by threatening to block EU business if they even start the process.
Fact is Spain isn’t meeting the New NATO target, applying for cheap loans from the EU defence fund at the same time and has zero intention of meetings obligations. And getting away with it, the irony is Trump can’t use his usual levers such as Trade Tariffs because Spains trade is rolled in with the EU.
If he wants to punish Spain he could just pull out of the bases at Rota and Moron and redeploy assets elsewhere (Gibralter, Suda bay, Italy and Cyprus. It’s a strange old fact but Spain is effectively the best defended part of Europe in regards of missile defence due to 4 ICBM enabled AB destroyers being based there.
I must nor push the send button before I am finished 😖