Sweden will launch, between February and March, a NATO air defense mission in Iceland, strengthening airspace surveillance in the Arctic amid rising geopolitical tensions in the region.
The operation is part of the Alliance’s Air Policing system and involves the deployment of JAS 39 Gripen fighter jets from the Swedish Air Force, tasked with readiness missions and responses to incidents in allied airspace.
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The deployed unit — equivalent to a fighter squadron with ground support teams from the Skaraborg Air Wing (F 7) — is based at Keflavík Air Base, from where it operates under the coordination of NATO’s Combined Air Operations Centre in Uedem, Germany.
The mission follows Sweden’s integration into the Alliance’s new operational area linked to Joint Force Command (JFC) Norfolk, which covers the North Atlantic, the Arctic, and the transatlantic link between North America and Europe.
Swedish authorities emphasize that the Arctic has become a central strategic theater for Euro-Atlantic security. Seven of the eight Arctic countries are NATO members, while Russia remains outside the Alliance and has expanded its military presence and ambitions in the region. In this context, Sweden’s contribution aims to deter risks, ensure regional stability, and strengthen collective defense.
The operation marks the first participation of the Skaraborg Air Wing with a fighter unit in a formal NATO mission, expanding the experience gained in recent operations under allied command. According to the Swedish Air Force, the Gripen aircraft and their crews are prepared to operate in severe weather conditions, with a proven track record in winter environments and a high level of readiness for different threat profiles.
The Air Policing mission, in effect since the 1960s, remains one of the pillars of NATO’s air security, especially in sensitive areas such as the Arctic, where strategic competition and increased military activity raise the risk of incidents.
Source and images: Forsvarsmakten (Swedish Armed Forces). This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
