US begins Icelandic Air Surveillance and Policing 2015

by Staff Sgt. Chad Warren
52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs

4/23/2015 - KEFLAVIK, Iceland -- The 871st Air Expeditionary Squadron began the Icelandic Air Surveillance and Policing mission Friday, April 17 at Keflavik International Airport, Iceland.

Part of an ongoing NATO commitment in the region, IAS is a recurring mission designed to help keep Icelandic airspace safe and secure.

Since 2008, Keflavik has hosted NATO partner nation aircraft in support of this mission. Iceland does not maintain its own military force, so the U.S. and other NATO allies periodically rotate through Keflavik to maintain the integrity and security of Iceland's airspace.

"We've been honoring these commitments with our partners here in Iceland for a long time," said U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. John Stratton, commander of the 871st Air Expeditionary Squadron. "It's an extremely important relationship, an extremely important partnership and a very, very important mission we do. I trust we will continue to do it extremely well."

Personnel and equipment deployed in support of IAS include four F-15C Eagle fighter aircraft from Royal Air Force Lakenheath, a KC-135 Stratotanker from RAF Mildenhall and approximately 200 U.S Airmen from various bases throughout the European region