Summary and Key Points: The Royal Air Force (RAF) has deployed its F-35B Lightning II stealth fighters from 617 Squadron to Iceland for the first time, participating in NATO’s Arctic air policing mission. This marks the F-35B’s debut in a NATO air policing role, taking over from the U.S. Air Force’s F-15E Strike Eagles.

-The deployment underscores the UK’s commitment to NATO, particularly in the face of increasing Russian activity in the Arctic.

-The mission also serves as a cold climate training opportunity, highlighting the F-35’s versatility in both land and maritime operations amidst growing geopolitical competition in the Arctic region.

British F-35 Lightning to be an Ice Storm in NATO Deployment

Does lightning strike in an ice storm? We might find out, as the Royal Air Force (RAF) deployed its Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II fifth-generation stealth fighters from 617 Squadron, Marham, UK to Iceland. This marks the first time the RAF's Lightning IIs participated in a NATO air policing mission.

"The F-35Bs will defend NATO airspace in the Arctic Region and provide Airborne Surveillance and Interception Capabilities to meet Iceland's Peacetime Preparedness Needs – or ASIC IPPN," NATO announced on Friday.

The RAF's last deployment to the NATO nation in the North Atlantic was in 2019, during which time four Eurofighter Typhoon jets took part in 59 training sorties and conducted more than 180 practice intercepts.

The UK's Commitment to NATO

This is the latest NATO air policing mission carried out by the RAF, and it follows a four-month mission of six Eurofighter Typhoons that were deployed to the international military alliance's eastern flank and operated from Romania. In total, more than 200 RAF personnel were deployed to Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base.

"The UK is unshakeable in its commitment to NATO. With threats increasing and growing Russian aggression, it is vital that we stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies," said Luke Pollard, the UK's minister for the armed forces. "This latest air policing mission in Iceland displays the UK's ability to operate and deter our adversaries across the alliance's airspace."

The 617 Squadron's F-35Bs will take over the Arctic air policing mission from the U.S. Air Force's 492nd Fighter Squadron, which deployed to Iceland in June with an undisclosed number of F-15E Strike Eagles. This also marks the return of F-35s to the region, as four F-35As from the Royal Norwegian Air Force were assigned to the policing duties prior to the arrival of the Strike Eagles.

"This will be the first time that the Lightning Force has deployed to contribute to NATO Air Policing, and will no doubt once again prove the flexibility that this platform offers as it demonstrates its capability to operate from both a land and maritime environment," said RAF Group Captain John Butcher, Lightning Force commander.

Cold War Training

Italy had previously deployed the F-35B – the short/vertical takeoff and landing (S/VTOL) variant of the Joint Strike Fighter – to Iceland during a 2022 air poling mission. As reported by TheAviationist.com, it "provided an opportunity for cold climate training" of the fifth-generation fighter, and the outlet added, "the decision to send F-35Bs rather than the more usual Typhoons is a chance to demonstrate the stealth fighter’s multirole abilities."

Competition with Russia and China for control of the Arctic is heating up, as Moscow has established multiple military bases in the region, including the reopening of Soviet-era military installations, while eight of its 11 submarines capable of launching long-range nuclear weapons are in the Russian Navy's Northern Fleet.

Eight nations have a presence in the Arctic including Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, the United States, and Russia. All of those nations – except Russia – are now members of NATO. And apart from Iceland and Sweden, all operate the F-35, so there is good reason to expect that it will be regularly taking part in patrols in the region.

Author Experience and Expertise: Peter Suciu

Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer. He has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers, and websites with over 3,200 published pieces over a twenty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: [email protected].

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