Born Air Policing: F35 aircraft in support of Iceland's air defense

(To air Force)
09/06/20

The F-35As of the Italian Air Force belonging to the 32nd wing of Amendola deployed for the second time in Iceland with the task of safeguarding the integrity of NATO airspace. The operation of Air Policing, called Northern Lightning II and lasting about two months, officially began with a solemn flag-raising carried out by the staff of the Italian detachment deployed at the Keflavik international airport.

The Task Force Air 32nd Wing, set up on the Keflavik Air Base and commanded by Colonel Michele Cesario, reports directly to the Interforce Operational Command (COI) and is made up, in addition to the Task Group (flight group), also by technical personnel and logistics and a team of Air Defense Controllers. These, in coordination with the Icelandic Coast Guard, ensure the functions of air defense, from surveillance and identification to the control of interceptors in the Area of ​​Responsibility (AOR - Area of ​​Responsibility). 

The contribution provided by other departments of the Armed Force was also indispensable, as they guaranteed the rapid and effective redeployment of the personnel and assets of the TFA. The C-130J aircraft of the 46th air brigade of Pisa and KC-767 of the 14th wing of Pratica di Mare carried out the transport of personnel and material, while the personnel of the departments dependent on the 3rd division of the logistic command ensured the necessary systems for telecommunications and flight assistance sector.

All the men and women employed underwent a health screening before being admitted to the operating theater, also carrying out a period of precautionary isolation both in Italy and in Iceland. However, the health protocol followed during the serious pandemic caused by Covid19 did not affect the organizational and management capacity of the Task Force which, from the first day of the redeployment, carried out the technical and logistical preparation activities for the start of the mission.

The Italian Air Force participates continuously in Interim Air Policing from Slovenia, from 2004, from Albania, from 2009, from Montenegro from 2018 (alternating in this service respectively with Greece and with Hungary), and has already been involved in Iceland for five times since 2013, in addition to having operated in missions of Enhanced Air Policing in favor of the member countries of the eastern flank (Bulgaria and Romania). In the latter case it was a matter of strengthening the airspace surveillance activity, thus reducing costs and maximizing efficiency, mainly with the use of F-2000 Eurofighter aircraft. 

Furthermore, following the agreements concerning NATO Assurance Mesasures, added to the NATO Air Policing Force offering, the Airspace protected by the jets of the Air Force also included that of the Baltic Republics (Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia) in 2018.

The F35A of the 32 ° Stormo of the Italian Air Force were used for the first time in the operation Northern Lightning I in Iceland in 2019.

L'Air Policing (AP) is a capability that NATO has equipped itself since the mid-XNUMXs and consists of integrating the respective national systems of member countries into a single NATO air and missile defense system. The activity of Air Policing it has been conducted since peacetime and consists of the continuous surveillance of NATO airspace and the identification of any violations to it.

The AP is carried out within the area of ​​responsibility of the NATO Allied Command Operation (ACO) based in Brussels and is coordinated by the Headquarters Allied Air Command in Ramstein (GER ).