Cold war in the High North
Sweden's Air Force successfully completed its first NATO Air Policing deployment in Iceland, dispatching six Saab JAS39 Gripen C fighters and 110 personnel to provide air defense and QRA capability. The mission was part of a broader NATO effort to defend and deter in the High North amid increased activity by Russia and growing interest in the Arctic region.
Sweden's Air Force completed its first NATO Air Policing deployment in Iceland, part of a rotation of fighters from NATO nations aimed at providing air defense and QRA capability. The Swedish detachment consisted of six Saab JAS39 Gripen C fighters and 110 personnel, including pilots, maintenance crews, and a counter UAS unit. The Gripens were armed with guns and IRIS-T missiles to deter Russian bombers and spyplanes probing NATO's northern flank. The mission was seen as a success, with the Swedish Air Force chief Maj Gen Jonas Wikman expressing pride in the unit's performance. The deployment is part of a broader NATO effort to defend and deter in the High North amid increased activity by Russia and growing interest in the Arctic region. The region's importance is rising due to geopolitics, technology, and climate change, with melting ice caps potentially opening new trade routes and bringing new competitors into the region.
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