At the end of July, Spain officially took over the Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) in Icelandic airspace – a historic first commitment by the Spanish aerospace forces on the Atlantic island. on the Atlantic island.
Following the handover of operational responsibility to NATO the tactical air detachment “Stinga” at Keflavík airbase took over permanent alert readiness. Two armed F-18s in QRA configuration and a rotating team of pilots, weapons masters and technicians are deployed.
The detachment comprises a total of 122 soldiers – including pilots, mechanics, logisticians, IT and security personnel – as well as six F-18s from the 15th Squadron in Zaragoza. The jets had already been deployed to Keflavík on July 22 in a non-stop flight lasting around four hours – supported by two aerial refuelings: one by a Spanish tanker in national airspace, the other by a French tanker over the North Sea.
After its arrival, the unit completed several training and certification flights, which are a prerequisite for commencing live operations. The operational readiness and responsiveness of the Spanish QRA system was successfully tested by the NATO Combined Air Operations Center (CAOC).
“It’s a historic moment,” says Commander Antonio Macebo Marín, pilot of the contingent. “For Spain, this deployment means operational responsibility in a previously unfamiliar environment – both geographically and climatically. It is also an outstanding training opportunity for our pilots.”
The Spanish mission is part of the NATO operation ASIC IPPN (“Airborne Surveillance and Interception Capabilities to meet Iceland’s Peacetime Preparedness Needs”) – an element of the NATO Persistent Effort initiative, which was launched after the annexation of Crimea in 2014. The aim is the seamless control and defense of allied airspace.
Although Iceland is a NATO member, it does not have its own air force. NATO partners therefore rotate to the strategically important Keflavík airbase to secure the North Atlantic airspace – a key area for intercontinental air routes and early warning systems.
With the deployment of the “Stinga” detachment, Spain is now also involved in the northernmost wing of the alliance after missions in the Baltic states, Bulgaria and Romania – with state-of-the-art jets and in constant readiness for the collective security of Europe.
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