Page 83 - Air Forces Monthly - September 2017

I t is a rainy and windy day at airspace. Until 1962 the unit operated the Further US budget cuts resulted in the
Keflavík Airport when suddenly
F-89C Scorpion, followed by the F-102 Delta
decision to withdraw all US military troops
the alarm sounds in the old 57th
Fighter Squadron shelter area. Canadian Dagger. These were replaced in early 1973 from Iceland by the end of 2006. The last
by the F-4C Phantom II, in turn relieved by the US rotational fighter deployment at Keflavík
aircrews dash to their Hornets and within more sophisticated F-4E Phantom II in 1978. came to an end on June 28 that year.
minutes two aircraft roll to the active By 1985 the last Phantom II had left Keflavík To avoid a gap in airspace surveillance
runway for a so-called ‘Tango scramble’. and the 57th Fighter Squadron re-equipped and interception capability Iceland’s
This is a typical scene from Operation with the brand-new ‘IS’-coded F-15C/D Eagle. Prime Minister Geir Haarde requested
Reassurance/Air Task Force-Iceland, which The end of the Cold War and the inevitable during the 2006 NATO Summit in Riga,
took place between May 11 and June 19. budget cuts resulted in the deactivation of Latvia, that NATO assumed responsibility
The skies above and around Iceland have the 57th FS in March 1995. However, the for the protection of Iceland’s airspace
always been very busy with civilian and need for a continuous air surveillance and and NATO’s borders in the Northern
military aircraft. Nevertheless, Iceland
military aircraft. Nevertheless, Iceland interception capability was recognised and Atlantic. NATO’s North Atlantic Council
interception capability was recognised and
under the supervision of Air Combat
is the only NATO country without a under the supervision of Air Combat consented in 2007 and plans for upcoming
is the only NATO country without a
standing military. Early in the Cold
standing military. Early in the Cold Command (ACC) active-duty and deployments were laid out. Instead
Command (ACC) active-duty and
Air National Guard F-15 units
War, Soviet long-range bombers Air National Guard F-15 units of a permanent detachment, Iceland
began rotations to Keflavík every
began regular incursions into began rotations to Keflavík every requested three annual deployments,
Icelandic airspace. From 1953 three months until October each lasting three to four weeks.
three months until October
2002 when these tasks were
the US Air Force’s 57th Fighter 2002 when these tasks were The first NATO deployment to Iceland
taken over by the United States
Interceptor Squadron ‘Black taken over by the United States began on May 5, 2008 and was conducted
Knights’ protected Icelandic Air Forces in Europe (USAFE). by four French Air Force Mirage 2000Cs
Air Forces in Europe (USAFE).
Left: Two CF-188s on patrol over central
Iceland. Intercept controllers for the CF-188s
were provided by the Combined Air Operations
Centre in Uedem, Germany. Crew from the 21st
Aerospace Control and Warning Squadron and
22 Wing worked closely with the Icelandic Coast
Guard to ensure mission execution and accurate
transfer of information between ATF-Iceland and
the CAOC in Uedem.
All photos Martin Scharenborg and Ramon Wenink

Hornet Replacement Project

The remaining 77 thoroughly upgraded to purchase the aircraft due to numerous
RCAF CF-188s are expected to remain in disagreements in parliament concerning
operational service until 2025. Nevertheless, the matter. In the meantime, an Interim
the Canadian government is urgently looking Fighter Solution is being considered to fi ll
for a successor to the ageing Hornet. The the gap and supplement the CF-188 fl eet
RCAF has indicated a need for a fl eet of 88 until a permanent replacement is delivered.
fi ghters to fulfi l pilot training, readiness The primary candidate for the Interim
training, defence of Canadian airspace, the Fighter Solution is the Boeing F/A-18E/F
NORAD mission, and international (NATO) Super Hornet, of which 18 aircraft could be
commitments. Canada has already invested purchased. A fi nal decision concerning the
more than C$311m in the development of the Interim Fighter Solution or the permanent
Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II. However, successor to the CF-188 is expected no
the government has not signed a contract earlier than the beginning of 2018.

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