Spain’s deployment of six fighter jets, along with tactical support personnel, maintainers, and logistical assets, is part of its commitment to NATO.
Spain’s commitment to NATO was called into question this spring after the western European nation sought to be excluded from the international military alliance’s defense spending goals. Madrid has confirmed it would commit to the 32-nation coalition by spending 2.1 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP) on defense, but sought an exclusion from the 5 percent target called for by NATO leaders.
However, Spain, which joined NATO in 1982, has been active in other commitments, notably deploying its combat aircraft in the alliance’s air policing missions.
Last week, six Spanish Air and Space Force EF/A-18M Hornet fighters landed at Keflavik Air Base, Iceland, to take up NATO air policing duties for the first time from the island nation. It follows a previous air policing mission carried out by Spanish aircraft in Romania earlier this year.
“This deployment marks a significant milestone as it is the first time Spain has stationed to Iceland for this mission and bolsters the Alliance’s commitment to collective defense and regional security,” NATO said in a statement.
During the deployment to Keflavik Air Base, the EF/A-18M Hornets, a modernized variant of the McDonnell Douglas F/A-18A/B multirole fighter, will conduct patrols in the Arctic Region and provide “Airborne Surveillance and Interception Capabilities to meet Iceland’s Peacetime Preparedness Needs (ASIC IPPN).”
France Provided Refueling Assistance to the Spanish Fighter Jets
The six fighters, along with tactical support personnel, maintainers, and logistical assets, were deployed from Spain to Iceland. While operating from Iceland, the Spanish fighters will be integrated into NATO’s Air Policing framework. They will operate under a Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) status, a state of readiness maintained 24/7 to ensure the aircraft can respond as needed.
“We are fully committed to NATO’s Air Policing mission,” said Lieutenant Colonel Rafael Ichaso of the Spanish Air and Space Forces. “We are pleased to be in Iceland for the first time, and we stand ready to secure the skies and ensure a credible deterrence posture.”
To make the more than 1,800-mile flight from Spain to Iceland, the Hornets were refueled by a French A330 tanker aircraft.
In addition to the Airborne Surveillance and Interception Capabilities Iceland Peacetime Preparedness Needs (ASCI IPPN) mission, Spanish aircraft were also deployed to Lithuania on Friday. Spanish and Hungarian fighters, along with other assets, assumed the Baltic air policing duties—relieving the Polish Air Force, which had been responsible for these duties for the past four months.
Why Are Air Policing Missions Needed?
The rotation of foreign aircraft to Keflavik Air Base, Iceland, and Šiauliai Air Base, Lithuania, occurs throughout the year. Such rotation is necessary, as neither Iceland nor Lithuania has an active air force. Likewise, the other two Baltic nations of Estonia and Latvia also have no formal air force. Instead, other NATO countries are tasked with policing their airspaces.
Iceland formally requested the fighter deployment in 2006, and operations began in May 2008. The host countries are charged with paying for the deployment expenses.
NATO also carries out enhanced air policing over Albania, Croatia, Northern Macedonia, Slovenia, the Benelux countries (Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg), and the Southern Air Policing nations of Bulgaria and Romania, including the Black Sea.
About the Author: Peter Suciu
Peter Suciu has contributed over 3,200 published pieces to more than four dozen magazines and websites over a thirty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. He is based in Michigan. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: [email protected].
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