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U.S. Air Forces in Europe \u2013 Air Forces Africa Airmen and aircraft are joining Icelandic Coast Guard, North Atlantic Treaty Organization forces, and U.S. Joint forces in Iceland for the start of U.S. Sixth Fleet\u2019s Northern Viking 2026 (NV26), Aug. 22. The nine-day exercise is critical to defending the Arctic and North Atlantic as Allied forces strengthen combat power, sustain lethal forces, and deter hostile action.<\/p>\n
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Exercise Northern Viking is a biennial exercise hosted by Iceland, led by U.S. Naval Forces Europe and executed by the U.S. Sixth Fleet. This year marks a milestone as the 75th anniversary of the 1951 Bilateral Defense Agreement between Iceland and the United States.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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NV26 brings together naval, air and land components from NATO Allies including Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Lithuania, Norway, Poland and the U.S., alongside specialized assets and personnel from NATO Allied Maritime Command and Joint Force Command Norfolk.<\/p>\n
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NV26 opened with a ceremony Aug. 18 hosted by \u00deorger\u00f0ur Katr\u00edn Gunnarsd\u00f3ttir, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Iceland, and U.S. Air Force General Alexus G. Grynkewich, Supreme Allied Commander Europe and commander, U.S. European Command.<\/p>\n
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\u201cThe blue waves of the Atlantic Ocean carry an invisible link that connects us. In a crisis, securing the North Atlantic would be fundamental to our collective defense. Iceland sits directly on that strategic connection. Our geography puts us, quite literally, between Europe and North America at the Arctic Gateway,\u201d Gunnarsd\u00f3ttir said. \u201cThis important location also carries responsibilities. We must ensure that our allies can operate from and through Iceland when necessary. The ability to provide secure and reliable access is, itself, a valuable strategic capability.\u201d<\/p>\n
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USAFE-AFAFRICA units supporting NV26 include 37th Airlift Squadron C-130J Super Hercules transport aircraft and crews, 86th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron medical staff, 786th Civil Engineer Squadron Explosive Ordnance Disposal technicians, 435th Contingency Response Squadron, 86th Communications Squadron, and USAF Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape personnel. They will be joined by nearly 1,200 U.S. and Allied personnel to project combat power and deter aggression in an increasingly contested part of the world.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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\u201cWe live in a very consequential time, and none of us can do this on our own. Around the globe, our strategic competitors are collaborating in new ways. Here in the Arctic and the High North, we see this in sharp focus,\u201d Grynkewich said. \u201cThe Arctic is becoming more accessible, and new routes and new resources are setting the stage for increased activity and competition. This is why Northern Viking is so important. Security in the High North is security for each and every one of us.\u201d<\/p>\n
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NV26 will exercise a broad range of mission sets including humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, search and rescue, joint personnel recovery, mass casualty events, anti-submarine warfare, and mine countermeasure events. USAFE-AFAFRICA forces will play a critical role in many of these activities.<\/p>\n
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By training and operating together, Allied military forces build cohesion and strengthen readiness to maintain the Euro-Atlantic\u2019s peace and security. NV26 will bolster Allies\u2019 military capability, capacity and confidence as they take the lead in the conventional defense of Europe.<\/p>\n
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\u201cWe will train hard together, and in doing so, build cohesive and proficient teams able to operate in contested environments and win. We will build trust by working side by side throughout,\u201d Grynkewich said. \u201cWe will train like we fight, and in doing so during Northern Viking 26, we will ensure our forces remain lethal and ready to deter and defend every single inch of alliance territory.\u201d<\/p>\n
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As the air component for both U.S. European Command\u00a0and U.S. Africa Command, USAFE-AFAFRICA executes the air component missions with forward-based airpower and infrastructure to conduct and enable theater and global operations.\u00a0USAFE-AFAFRICA directs air operations in a theater spanning three continents, covering more than 19 million square miles, and containing 104 independent states.<\/p>\n
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For more information, please call +49 (0) 6371-47-6558 or e-mail usafepao.pao@us.af.mil<\/a>. If after duty hours, please call +49 (0) 1624-25-5428 or e-mail usafepa.pastaffdutyofficer@us.af.mil<\/a>.<\/p>\n
Find publicly releasable and useable photo, video and print products relating to NV26 on the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service. Interested individuals are encouraged to subscribe to the NORTHERN VIKING 26 DVIDS\u2019 page to receive notifications on newly published content and material here: https:\/\/www.dvidshub.net\/feature\/NorthernViking26<\/p>\n
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