Royal Air Force (RAF) F-35B Lightning multi-role fighter aircraft from RAF Marham have deployed to Iceland to participate in a NATO air policing mission. This marks the first time that RAF F-35s will be involved in the NATO air policing role.
NATO air policing is a permanent peacetime mission that aims to maintain the security of Allied skies. It is a collective task that involves the continuous presence of fighter aircraft and crews ready to quickly react to possible airspace violations.
The latest mission comes as UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer emphasized the UK’s strong commitment to NATO at its Summit in Washington last month. He underscored his determination to safeguard the future of the Alliance and confront global threats to the UK and its Western allies.
Luke Pollard, Minister for the Armed Forces said: “The UK is unshakeable in its commitment to NATO. With threats increasing and growing Russian aggression, it is vital that we stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies.”
“This latest air policing mission in Iceland displays the UK’s ability to operate and deter our adversaries across the alliance’s airspace.”
Group Captain John Butcher, Lightning Force Commander stated: “This will be the first time that the Lightning Force has deployed to contribute to NATO Air Policing, and will no doubt once again prove the flexibility that this platform offers as it demonstrates its capability to operate from both a land and maritime environment.”
The F-35B aircraft from 617 Squadron will be patrolling Icelandic airspace, having travelled from RAF Marham. This is the first time British fighter aircraft have taken part in such activity in Iceland since 2019 when four Typhoon jets flew 59 training sorties and more than 180 practice intercepts.
The F-35 is a stealth aircraft capable of conducting air-to-surface, electronic warfare, intelligence gathering, and air-to-air missions simultaneously. The aircraft combines advanced sensors and mission systems with low observable technology, or “stealth”, allowing it to operate undetected in hostile airspace. Its integrated sensors, sensor fusion, and data linking provide the pilot with unprecedented situational awareness. The pilot can share information gathered by the aircraft with other platforms using secure data links and use the information to employ weapons or electronic means.
The RAF F-35 Lightning fleet is held at high readiness to deploy in support of UK and NATO operations Worldwide – from both land and sea.
Lockheed Martin F-35 multi-role fighter aircraft
| Type: | Stealth multirole fighter aircraft |
| Manufacturer: | Lockheed Martin |
| Country of origin: | United States |
| First flight: | December 2006 |
| Operators: | United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Denmark, Netherlands, Norway, Israel |
| Crew: | 1 |
| Max speed: | Mach 1.6 |
| Range: | 1,200 nmi (F-35A), 900 nmi (F-35B), 1,200 nmi (F-35C) |
| Engine: | 1 × Pratt & Whitney F135-PW-100 afterburning turbofan |
| Length: | 15.7 m (F-35A), 15.6 m (F-35B), 15.7 m (F-35C) |
| Wingspan: | 10.7 m (F-35A), 10.7 m (F-35B), 13.1 m (F-35C) |
| Height: | 4.39 m (F-35A), 10.7 m (F-35B), 13.1 m (F-35C) |
| Armament: | 1 × 25 mm GAU-22/A 4-barrel rotary cannon; 4 × internal stations, 6 × external stations on wings for air-to-air missiles, air-to-surface missiles, precision-guided bombs |
| On-board systems: | AN/APG-81 AESA Radar; Electronic Systems AN/AAQ-37 Distributed Aperture System (DAS) missile warning system; AN/ASQ-239 (Barracuda) electronic warfare system; Harris Corporation Multifunction Advanced Data Link (MADL) communication system |
