Overview

• The detachment marks the first deployment of Spanish combat aircraft to Iceland, touching down at Keflavik Air Base on July 21 as part of Operation Stinga.
• A 44-member advance team arrived earlier in July to establish ground support for the 122-strong force of pilots, mechanics and logistics specialists.
• Full integration into NATO’s air policing structure begins on July 28, after which the Spanish unit will maintain round-the-clock alert until mid-August.
• Primary missions include identifying and intercepting aircraft operating without flight plans or radio contact, a tactic often employed by Russian military jets.
• The deployment underscores NATO burden-sharing on its northern flank and relies on specialized Arctic training to navigate Iceland’s challenging terrain.