For a month, Italian F-35As have been defending Icelandic skies with Operation “Northern Lightning III”.”
One month after achieving Full Operational Capability (Full Operational Capability – FOC, that is to say certification necessary ensure the Sky safety Icelanders within the scope of activities Air Policing, the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Air Force General Luca Goretti, accompanied by the Logistic Commander, Air Force General Roberto Comelli, and the Defence Attaché at the Italian Embassy in London, Air Commodore Enrico Pederzolli, met the men and women of Task Force Air – Iceland.
Since Operation “Northern Lightning III“ at the airbase of Keflavík, the commitment of Italian contingent, re-deployed in Iceland to preserve the integrity of the airspace of the NATO in peacetime, strengthening Iceland's air surveillance activities, which lacks its own air defence capabilities, continued seamlessly, conducting, in the meantime, Joint training exercise with the’Icelandic Coast Guard and NATO forces present in the theatre of operations.
These 30 days were characterised by the 100% of Maintenance efficiency of the weapon system F-35A which ensured, despite the peculiarity of the activities connected with deployment outside national borders, the achievement of 250 flying hours in just one month for the four aircraft involved in the Operation.
Lo extraordinary achievement it was achieved thanks to the professionality of the technical and logistical staff and to the daily commitment of all Men and women of the Air Force redeployed in Iceland.
It Chief of Staff the Air Force has expressed its satisfaction for the important milestone reached: “It is a cause for deep pride to meet the men and women of the Air Force here in Iceland, where once again the Armed Force is giving its best, demonstrating its potential and the operational capability it is able to put in place. The F-35 line is now an undisputed and incontrovertible reality of the Air Force's landscape, widely recognised by the NATO coalition, and I must acknowledge that I am truly proud of how we have managed to achieve these results in such a short time. General Goretti then added: “Achieving such ambitious goals in such a short time is possible thanks to the constant training and truly unique preparation of our personnel. The collective effort of the entire Air Force is indispensable, combining both the operational component and the support logistics, the fundamental element that allows an Armed Force to be deployable and stakeable anywhere and in a very short time. And the demonstration is right here in Iceland.
After those of the 2019 and 2020, in fact, the one currently underway is the third redeployment in Iceland for the F-35A of 32nd Wing of Amendola, the longest of those made so far. The 13th Flying Group, who has already gained considerable experience in the international arena by participating in the activities of Air Policing of NATO in Iceland ended Estonia, as well as ensuring the QRA service (Quick Reaction Alert) from its home base, continues in parallel to train their crews it has multiple and further uses that the platform allows.
On the occasion of the visit, as a testament to the deep synergy between’Italian Air Force and the Icelandic Coastguard, the General S.A. Goretti met the Deputy Commander of Keflavik Air Base, T.Col. Marvin Ingólfsson.
The Task Force Air, reporting directly to COVI (Interforce Summit Operational Command) is composed, in addition to Flight Group and from Technical and logistics staff coming from the various Branches of the Armed Force, also from a Team of Air Defence Controllers which, in collaboration with the Icelandic Coast Guard, will ensure until the end of June the surveillance and eventually The interception, by means of the F-35A in a constant state of Readiness, of Unidentified aircraft, in difficulty, or that represent a Potential threat.
The’Air Policing AP It is a mission that has been undertaken by the NATO starting from the mid-fifties and consisting of’integration of the respective national systems of the member states in a unified air and missile defence system of NATO. The activity of Air Policing it has been conducted since peacetime and consists of continued airspace surveillance NATO and in identifying all of the any violations of the same.
