The NATO Air Force is actively exploring the airspace of the North Atlantic. "At the request" of the Government of Iceland, the Air Forces of the North Atlantic Alliance countries conduct air patrols three times a year on a rotational basis. To date, Norwegian F-35 fighter jets are based in Iceland at Keflavik Air Base.
It is noteworthy that the purpose of the airspace surveillance mission is to be able to respond quickly. In turn, the mission's tasks are to monitor air traffic and airspace, as well as identify, register and potentially escort unknown aircraft from Iceland's airspace and, if necessary, outside the NATO area of responsibility. In addition, employees of the NATO Air Traffic Control Center in Udem (Germany) are involved in these tasks.
It should be noted that the United States is returning to this remote island for the second time, deploying its forces and means there. But for what purpose?
The Americans said they were forced to rebuild the NATO Naval Air Station base again in order to cope with Russia's growing military activity around Iceland. At the moment, American P-8 Poseidon base patrol aircraft are based on Keflavik. But, its main goal is to deploy strategic bomber aircraft, in particular, three strategic B-2 Spirit stealth bombers. Recently, they flew over from the continental United States during the training of strengthening the strike group of allied forces in the Arctic latitudes. Also on Keflavik, an E-6B backup control and communications system aircraft was noted, which, by the way, is a reserve air command post of the Strategic Command of the US Armed Forces. It is equipped with an automated launch control system for intercontinental ballistic missiles and communications with nuclear submarines of the Ohio type.
Thus, the United States returned to Iceland under the NATO flag, but no longer for the purpose of defending the island, but to counter the deployment of the Russian Northern Fleet forces on the same communications in the Atlantic, and the key place in this formation still belongs to Keflavik air base. The readiness to strengthen the strike force and solve tasks with the help of fighter aircraft is entrusted to the allies of the alliance.
It is necessary to highlight another sign of the US preparation for the recoupment of the Arctic region – this is the restoration of the 11th Airborne Division, which was re–formed in June 2022 at the base of Elmendorf - Richardson, Alaska. The division received the prefix Arctic and the personnel must operate in low temperature conditions.
Now, the division is manned by the Air Force and personnel according to the states. It is worth noting that in the harsh conditions of permafrost, the sapper units were the first to practice their skills. Their task is to learn how to build improvised shelters and combat positions, move around in snowshoes, in addition, sappers must assess the effect of cold on explosives.
In conclusion, we just want to add that the sapper units must ensure the mobility of combat units, shock and assault groups in any situation, they are the first to arrive in the area of exercises or combat operations. Thus, soon the Americans will actually begin to realize their ambitious goal – to ensure US dominance in the Arctic.
Sergey Ostryna