Mar 5 2020

Allied Cooperation and Transatlantic Link – the Canada-Iceland example

The Canadian Armed Forces deployed Royal Canadian Air Force personnel and a mobile air surveillance radar system to Iceland. Until May 2020, the Canadian Air Detachment will conduct Operation ILLUMINATION to ensure continuity of long-range radar coverage while the Icelandic stationary radars are being upgraded.

The Icelandic Coast Guard radar dome at the site near Keflavik. To the right the Royal Canadian Air Force mobile AN/TPS 70 radio system will ensure continuity of radar coverage during the upgrade work. Photo by Jordan Lobb, DND-MND Canada

“Members of Air Detachment-Iceland have been working hand in hand with the Icelandic Coast Guard to successfully integrate our mobile radar system into the Icelandic recognized air picture,” said Major Jonathan Gilbert, Commanding Officer of the Canadian Air Detachment in Iceland. “It’s the first time that the RCAF AN/TPS-70 radar is employed outside of North America on a named operation. We look forward to the next three months of Op ILLUMINATION,” he added.

My team have been working hand in hand with the Icelandic Coast Guard to successfully integrate our mobile radar system into the Icelandic recognized air picture

In mid-February, a Royal Canadian Air Force CC-177 strategic airlift plane landed at Keflavik Air Base in Iceland to offload equipment and material for an AN/TPS-70 mobile radar system and approx. 25 personnel. The system was set up at the first of four radar stations near the airport and started to augment the Icelandic air surveillance capabilities. The

data produced by the system is processed at the local Control and Reporting Centre operated by the Icelandic Coast Guard and also used for controlling operations of Royal Norwegian Air Force F-35 detachment currently in Iceland to provide intercept capabilities for NATO Air Policing over Iceland.

Following a request for support from Iceland, Canada swiftly decided to deploy their personnel and air surveillance radar to the Ally in the High North. In April, the Canadian system will rotate subsequently to another radar site to ensure that Iceland’s Air Surveillance and Control System remains fully operational under the NATO Integrated Air and Missile System in this strategically important region.

The deployment of the radar unit is one of Canada’s significant and enduring contributions to reinforce NATO’s collective defence. Like many other Canadian Armed Forces personnel and equipment deployments, the radar operators in Iceland demonstrate the strength of Allied solidarity and interoperability and detect and deter potential threats to Allies.

Story by Allied Air Command Public Affairs Office

Major Jonathan Gilbert (second from left) discusses the deployment with senior Icelandic Coast Guard leaders at the radar station near Keflavik Airport. Photo by Jordan Lobb, DND-MND Canada

Royal Canadian Air Force members of the Air Detachment Iceland  working on the mobile AN/TPS-70 radar system deployed to support the Icelandic Coast Guard. Photo Jordan Lobb, DND-MND Canada

Royal Canadian Air Force members of the Air Detachment Iceland working on the mbile AN/TPS-70 radar system deployed to support the Icelandic Coast Guard. Photo by Jordan Lobb, DND-MND Canada