News>Air Force, NATO fly to protect Iceland's air sovereignty
Photos
A KC-135 Stratotanker, deployed from Royal Air Force Mildenhall, England, refuels an F-15C Eagle, deployed from RAF Lakenheath, England, while flying an alert mission exercise with the 493rd Expeditionary Fighter Squadron in Iceland May 22, 2012. The squadron, made up of both U.S. Air Force and NATO personnel, is fulfilling an air policing mission that assists in assuring Iceland's air sovereignty. (Courtesy photo)
Col. William Lewis, 48th Fighter Wing vice commander, is saluted by Airman 1st Class Joshua Tarango, 493rd Expeditionary Fighter Squadron crew chief, during an alert exercise with the 493rd EFS at Keflavik International Airport May 22, 2012. The squadron, made up of both U.S. Air Force and NATO personnel, is fulfilling an air policing mission that assists in assuring Iceland’s air sovereignty. While there, the squadron is on alert 24/7 and the F-15C can be airborne within 15 minutes. (U.S. Air Force photo by 2nd Lt. Lyndsey Horn)
by 2nd Lt. Lyndsey Horn
48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
5/23/2012 - KEFLAVIK, Iceland (AFNS) -- Airmen from Nevada to Germany are currently deployed here to conduct Icelandic air policing missions until June 7.
The 493rd Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, which is made up of U.S. Air Force and other North Atlantic Treaty Organization personnel, is a specialized team prepared to ensure Iceland's air sovereignty.
"In this NATO mission, we identify and escort unauthorized aircraft before they reach Iceland's sovereign air space," said Lt. Col. Michael Casey, the 493rd EFS commander.
The squadron is made up aircraft and Airmen from RAFs Lakenheath and Mildenhall, England; Ramstein and Spangdahlem air bases, Germany; and Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. In order to conduct the air policing, the squadron's F-15C Eagles, KC-135 Stratotankers and C-130J Hercules are on alert 24/7.
"We practice scramble launches and when we receive an alert, the F-15s can be in the air within 15 minutes," said Casey, who is deployed from the 493rd Fighter Squadron at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England.
The KC-135 is in place to support the F-15Cs in bad weather while the C-130J and its pararescuemen are prepared to conduct combat search and rescue, squadron officials said.
"This is a unique opportunity, especially for the younger guys, to see alert (operations)," said Capt. Charissa DeLion, a KC-135 pilot.
Beyond the alert operations, the mission provides U.S. personnel the opportunity to interact with their NATO partners, specifically Estonia and Iceland. For example, one control and reporting center officer and one air field manager come from Estonia.
"It helps build interoperability; being able to work with them is critical," said DeLion, who is deployed from the 100th Air Refueling Wing at RAF Mildenhall, England.
"We are proud to be working with other NATO members," said Casey. "They are integrated into the (Control Reporting Center), with active control of the missions alongside U.S. Airmen."
U.S. Air Force F-15Cs were permanently stationed in Iceland until 2006, but now conduct the air policing mission in conjunction with NATO in support of the U.S.-Iceland bilateral Defense Agreement of 1951.
Comments
5/29/2012 6:47:01 PM ET SAC had a nuclear mission operating from a home-base with all the right infrastructure and was manned appropriately for a 5-minute take off to get aircraft enroute before being destroyed by incoming nukes.This NATO exercise, however, has aircraft operating away from home. It's not a nuclear exercise, it's air defense in which 10 minutes isn't quite as critical. They're obviously also not equipped or manned for a quicker launch...so keep up the tut tut all you want, but it has no bearing on reality.
GA, UT
5/24/2012 5:31:13 PM ET Dave I am with you back in the mid 60s when I was with SAC the first time if the crew took 15 minutes to launch a B-52 General LeMay would have fired the crew once they landed.Don't get wrong it great that they are doing this just hard to believe they have a 15 minute window to launch.
Mike, Oklahoma
5/24/2012 4:46:31 PM ET Is the defense of Iceland still blue-stripe missiles and cameras for Bear watching One has to know...BTW no aircraft were permanently stationed other than HH-60s. Everthing else--Eagles tankers Hercs rotated through 2006 when the 85 OG went away. The 85th Ops Squadron had personnel that were qualified to fly F-15s and KC-135s and MX personnel but not planes. They left in 1995.
Jason, CO
5/24/2012 12:05:23 PM ET Brings back memories of the 57 FS. To the Black Knights
Todd, Washington DC
5/24/2012 7:44:43 AM ET 15 minutes Wow you guys need some lessons from the old SAC Warriors. We could get bombers up in less than 5.
