UK Lockheed Martin F-35Bs have practised short take-off operations during their debut NATO Enhanced Air Policing deployment to Keflavik, Iceland.
NATO Air Command says this activity has included the stealthy fighters – assigned to the Royal Air Force’s (RAF’s) 617 Sqn – conducting take-offs “using only 1,000ft of Keflavik’s 10,000ft runway”.
A trio of UK F-35Bs arrived at the Icelandic base early this month, with the assets delivering Arctic-region quick reaction alert (QRA) cover.
Deployed from RAF Marham in Norfolk, eastern England, the short take-off and vertical landing aircraft are conducting operations with each carrying two MBDA ASRAAM short-range air-to-air missiles on under-wing pylons.
Speaking as the jets deployed, UK Lightning Force commander Group Captain John Butcher said he expects the debut air policing deployment to “once again prove the flexibility that this platform offers, as it demonstrates its capability to operate from both a land and maritime environment”.
The RAF notes that its first QRA commitment with the F-35B is also the first time that it has deployed air policing assets to Iceland since 2019, when four Eurofighter Typhoons operated from Keflavik.
“This latest air policing mission in Iceland displays the UK’s ability to operate and deter our adversaries across the alliance’s airspace,” says Luke Pollard, minister for the armed forces.
