Home  /  Newsroom  /  2022  /  Portugal to patrol Icelandic skies in February and March

RAMSTEIN, Germany – Portugal is preparing four of their F-16 fighter aircraft at Monte Real Air Base, to deploy to Iceland at the end of this month flying air policing duties under the NATO banner.  

...an excellent opportunity to demonstrate our ability to deploy and hone our interoperability and skills in the collective domain of NATO Air Policing

A detachment of more than 80 personnel will deploy to Keflavik Air Base, Iceland and operate the F-16 fighters that will execute NATO's enduring mission patrolling the skies in the High North.

A Portuguese F-16 fighter deploys the afterburner taking off from Monte Real Air Base. 
Archive photo by José A. Campelos

in 2012, Portuguese F-16 fighters conducted the NATO mission to safeguard the airspace above the Ally in the High North in August and September. Photo courtesy Portuguese Air Force.

"For Portugal this is an excellent opportunity to demonstrate our ability to deploy and operate some 3,000 kms away from our home base at Monte Real", said Major Paulo Silva, scheduled to be the detachment commander in Iceland. "Another goal for us is to hone our interoperability and skills in the collective domain of NATO Air Policing", he added.