Belgian F-16 Fighters secure Icelandic airspace during NATO mission
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On 15 August, four Belgian F-16 AM fighter aircraft and around one hundred military personnel landed at Keflavik Airport, located some fifty kilometres from Reykjavik. Their one-month mission is to protect Icelandic airspace as part of NATO’s Icelandic Air Policing operation. Iceland, a member of the Atlantic Alliance, has no armed forces of its own and therefore relies on its allies to monitor its approaches.Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
In Iceland, the role of the Belgian F-16AMs will mirror that carried out in the Baltic states: maintaining a permanent alert to intercept and identify any non-allied military aircraft approaching allied territory. (Picture source: Belgian MoD)
This deployment is not the first Belgian participation. In 2022, the contribution was limited to a single pilot, known by the callsign Hubble, who was integrated into a Portuguese unit as part of a bilateral exchange. Three years later, Brussels has taken a step further by sending a complete national detachment from the 350th Squadron at Florennes, demonstrating its ability to carry out the mission independently.
The Belgian fleet still includes 45 modernised F-16 AM/BM Block 15 aircraft, of which around twenty are fully available for operations. These aircraft have undergone major upgrades under the Mid-Life Update (MLU) programme, which provided improved radar, modernised avionics, and compatibility with more recent weapons systems. Powered by the Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-200 engine, the F-16AM retains a maximum speed of Mach 2 while benefiting from increased operational effectiveness. Designed for both air superiority and ground support, it can carry AIM-9 Sidewinder and AIM-120 AMRAAM air-to-air missiles, AGM-65 Maverick and AGM-88 HARM air-to-surface missiles, as well as a wide range of conventional and guided bombs. A 20 mm M61 Vulcan internal cannon adds close-range firepower.
In addition to its weapons systems, the F-16 AM is equipped with updated defensive measures. These include electronic countermeasures such as infrared flares, chaff dispensers and radar warning receivers, providing greater survivability against modern threats. These enhancements ensure that, despite the age of the platform, the aircraft remains a reliable asset for NATO missions, pending the gradual introduction of the F-35A into Belgian service.
In Iceland, the role of the Belgian F-16AMs will mirror that carried out in the Baltic states: maintaining a permanent alert to intercept and identify any non-allied military aircraft approaching allied territory. Crews will pay particular attention to the zone known as the GIUK gap, the maritime and air space between Greenland, Iceland, and the United Kingdom. This corridor is frequently used by Russian bombers and submarines testing NATO’s readiness. From Keflavik, Belgian fighters will operate in coordination with the Control and Reporting Centre as well as NATO’s Combined Air Operations Centre in Uedem, Germany.
The Belgian deployment forms part of a rotation among allied countries, each of which takes turns assuming responsibility for Icelandic air policing. For Brussels, it represents a concrete contribution to collective security and a demonstration of transatlantic solidarity. Sending a full detachment marks a shift in posture compared to 2022, indicating a stronger role within NATO’s multinational arrangements.
The presence of four F-16AMs and one hundred Belgian military personnel in Iceland reflects the evolving role of Brussels within the Alliance. While three years ago the contribution was limited to a single pilot, Belgium now assumes direct responsibility for the aerial surveillance of a strategically important sector of the North Atlantic. This development underlines the position of the Belgian Air Component in collective security missions at a time when Russian military activity in the High North remains a central concern for NATO.
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{loadposition sidebarpub}
On 15 August, four Belgian F-16 AM fighter aircraft and around one hundred military personnel landed at Keflavik Airport, located some fifty kilometres from Reykjavik. Their one-month mission is to protect Icelandic airspace as part of NATO’s Icelandic Air Policing operation. Iceland, a member of the Atlantic Alliance, has no armed forces of its own and therefore relies on its allies to monitor its approaches.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
In Iceland, the role of the Belgian F-16AMs will mirror that carried out in the Baltic states: maintaining a permanent alert to intercept and identify any non-allied military aircraft approaching allied territory. (Picture source: Belgian MoD)
This deployment is not the first Belgian participation. In 2022, the contribution was limited to a single pilot, known by the callsign Hubble, who was integrated into a Portuguese unit as part of a bilateral exchange. Three years later, Brussels has taken a step further by sending a complete national detachment from the 350th Squadron at Florennes, demonstrating its ability to carry out the mission independently.
The Belgian fleet still includes 45 modernised F-16 AM/BM Block 15 aircraft, of which around twenty are fully available for operations. These aircraft have undergone major upgrades under the Mid-Life Update (MLU) programme, which provided improved radar, modernised avionics, and compatibility with more recent weapons systems. Powered by the Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-200 engine, the F-16AM retains a maximum speed of Mach 2 while benefiting from increased operational effectiveness. Designed for both air superiority and ground support, it can carry AIM-9 Sidewinder and AIM-120 AMRAAM air-to-air missiles, AGM-65 Maverick and AGM-88 HARM air-to-surface missiles, as well as a wide range of conventional and guided bombs. A 20 mm M61 Vulcan internal cannon adds close-range firepower.
In addition to its weapons systems, the F-16 AM is equipped with updated defensive measures. These include electronic countermeasures such as infrared flares, chaff dispensers and radar warning receivers, providing greater survivability against modern threats. These enhancements ensure that, despite the age of the platform, the aircraft remains a reliable asset for NATO missions, pending the gradual introduction of the F-35A into Belgian service.
In Iceland, the role of the Belgian F-16AMs will mirror that carried out in the Baltic states: maintaining a permanent alert to intercept and identify any non-allied military aircraft approaching allied territory. Crews will pay particular attention to the zone known as the GIUK gap, the maritime and air space between Greenland, Iceland, and the United Kingdom. This corridor is frequently used by Russian bombers and submarines testing NATO’s readiness. From Keflavik, Belgian fighters will operate in coordination with the Control and Reporting Centre as well as NATO’s Combined Air Operations Centre in Uedem, Germany.
The Belgian deployment forms part of a rotation among allied countries, each of which takes turns assuming responsibility for Icelandic air policing. For Brussels, it represents a concrete contribution to collective security and a demonstration of transatlantic solidarity. Sending a full detachment marks a shift in posture compared to 2022, indicating a stronger role within NATO’s multinational arrangements.
The presence of four F-16AMs and one hundred Belgian military personnel in Iceland reflects the evolving role of Brussels within the Alliance. While three years ago the contribution was limited to a single pilot, Belgium now assumes direct responsibility for the aerial surveillance of a strategically important sector of the North Atlantic. This development underlines the position of the Belgian Air Component in collective security missions at a time when Russian military activity in the High North remains a central concern for NATO.
