Canada deployed fighter jets to Iceland on Monday as part of a NATO operation to reinforce the defence of allies in Central and Eastern Europe
Underway today: Canada begins @NATO Icelandic Air Surveillance duties with deployment of CF18s to Keflavik: https://t.co/C7ySfpH2oI pic.twitter.com/PW63eYjclx
— Canada at NATO (@CanadaNATO) May 22, 2017
The Canadian CF-18 Hornet fighters will begin patrolling Iceland’s airspace for one month as part of Operation REASSURANCE.
As well, roughly 180 Canadian Armed Forces members of the Air Task Force-Iceland will be deployed to Iceland as well. This contingent includes a Royal Canadian Air Force fighter detachment and personnel in support of Air Task Force Iceland.
“Canada is a committed NATO ally and our commitment to the transatlantic bond is as strong as ever,” said Defence Minister Harjit S. Sajjan. “Air Task Force-Iceland is part of the renewal of the mandate of Operation REASSURANCE announced by the Government of Canada in July 2016 at the NATO Warsaw Summit in Poland.
“Canada and Iceland continue to be close partners within NATO and this deployment is an example of the Canada’s continuing solidarity and collaboration with Allies to ensure safety and security in the Alliance’s airspace.”
Operation REASSURANCE refers to the military activities under taken by the CAF since 2014 to support NATO assurance and deterrence measures.
The operation is designed to reinforce the defense of NATO Allies in Central and Eastern Europe as well as reassure those Allies’ populations of NATO support.
The news comes just after a CF-18 hornet was spotted flying over Kelowna on Saturday.
