After the Czechs and the Spaniards
The Belgian air force thus succeeds its Spanish counterpart, the Ejército del Aire Y del Espacio, which deployed for a month six EF-18M combat planes and a hundred people in Keflavik, where a military enclave exists. Previously, the Icelandic Air Policing mission was provided by five Saab Gripen of the Czech air force.
The Icelandic government has announced the arrival of the Belgian detachment, mostly from the 2nd Tactical Wing of Florennes, according to Belgian military sources. The mission will last from August 23 to September 13.
“Belgian planes are placed on a permanent alert as part of the Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) system. This means that at least two F-16s are armed, equipped and ready to take off in less than 15 minutes, 24/7, in order to intercept any aircraft that would violate the rules of air traffic or represent a potential threat. This level of responsiveness is essential to guarantee the integrity of NATO airspace“The Defense explained to us.
Belgium has already participated with its F-16s in a dozen similar missions to, since 2004, “preserve the sovereignty of the airspace of the Baltic countries” under the name of “Baltic Air Policing” (BAP) from Lithuania and Estonia.
