‘In Iceland, we have protected the NATO airspace, but we have also provided training in adverse and changing weather conditions’

•  During their deployment, which represents Spain’s first operation in this NATO member, the airmen of the ‘Stinga’ Tactical Air Detachment, led by Lieutenant Colonel Ichaso, have demonstrated their operational capabilities, as well as Spain’s firm commitment to collective security.

For the ‘Stinga’ Tactical Air Detachment (DAT in Spanish), the NATO Airborne Surveillance and Interception Capabilities to meet Iceland’s Peacetime Preparedness Needs (ASIC IPPN) mission is coming to an end. This NATO operation has been a historic milestone for Spain, as it is the first time that Spanish military personnel have been deployed and operated in Iceland. For a three-week period, six EF/A-18M hornet fighters from the 15th Wing in Zaragoza, supported by an aircrew of more than 120 military personnel from up to 11 different units of the Spanish Air and Space Force (EA in Spanish), have been responsible for preserving the integrity of NATO airspace and, where necessary, for reacting quickly in order to preserve the security of the Alliance’s territory and population.

The Spanish contingent was led by Lieutenant Colonel Rafael Ichaso Franco, a pilot with extensive operational experience for whom Iceland is his second NATO Air Policing mission, after his participation in operations in the Balkans. In this interview, he puts emphasis on the highly positive outcomes, which have been largely achieved thanks to the ‘Stinga’ Detachment work ‘as a well-knit team that has totally concentrated on accomplishing the mission’.

Lieutenant Colonel, why does the NATO projects a detachment in Iceland?

The Alliance’s pillar is the steadfast commitment to support and protect all member countries, especially those without armed forces or which are small in size. This is the case of Iceland, where NATO deploys aircraft for limited periods (on this occasion, around a 3-week period) in order to provide Air Policing tasks and thus contribute to the protection of our northern flank, which is of great importance for all the Allies.

This was the first deployment of a Spanish air detachment in Iceland. What are the reasons behind Spain’s commitment?

We deployed in an area were military presence was absent. For this reason, NATO’s Allied Air Command (AIRCOM) requested the collaboration of all member nations, and Spain took a firm step forward to fill this gap. A few days ago, German General Graefe, Chief of Staff of AIRCOM, accompanied the Deputy Chief of the Spanish Air Force Air Combat Command on his visit to the detachment and expressed his gratitude for Spain’s flexibility and rapid military response in solving a NATO problem, which demonstrates its firm and well-established commitment to collective security.

What level of operational demand has your unit taken on during this deployment in Iceland?

Without a doubt, the demand has been high because we had to provide NATO Air Policing elements in Iceland, from its northern flank, on a permanent basis. We have guaranteed this operation with two EF/A-18M aircraft on constant quick reaction alert and with our interception controllers from the NATO Control and Reporting Centre (CRC) at Loki, located at the Keflavik Air Base itself, as the Icelanders do not have this capability either.

Moreover, we have four other tanker aircraft, which also allow us to increase deterrence levels and maintain the training for aircrew during our deployments, which is essential for us. All in all, this deployment has provided us with a unique scenario. In Iceland, we have provided not only security for the Allies’ airspace, but also training on land and water in adverse and changing weather conditions.

The mission is about to conclude. What has this deployment meant for Spain, for the 15th Wing and for the airmen of the ‘Stinga’ Detachment?

Firstly, our presence in Iceland has once again demonstrated Spain’s commitment to NATO, since we have not only deployed in Iceland, but we are also present in many other Alliance countries, mainly on the eastern flank, but also in Iraq. For the Spanish Air and Space Force, this mission has required us to redouble our efforts since we have also deployed in Lithuania with the 11th Wing at the present time. On the other hand, for the 15th Wing, as well as for the rest of the units we have in Iceland, it has been a great challenge and responsibility. We organised and prepared ourselves in a very brief time, but our collective effort has yielded the expected results and the final outcome has been very positive.

Lastly, I would like to emphasise that all of us who make up ‘Stinga’ Detachment are particularly proud of our mission in Iceland. We come from different units spread across Spain, and this entails certain difficulties, especially when it comes to planning, repairing and coordinating the mission, as most of the meetings have been held by email or videoconference. However, thanks to the professionalism, dedication and enthusiasm of my airmen, it has been very easy to work as a cohesive team that is fully focused on the mission’s accomplishment.

How has the relationship with the host country, Iceland, been in this first Spanish deployment on its territory?

From the beginning, Iceland has welcomed us with open arms, because Icelanders are also very knowledgeable about Spain, and practically everyone we spoke to had previously been to our country. They have supported us in everything we needed, although we have also worked hard to earn their kind appreciation. In fact, every Friday we have shared paella, one of our national dishes, with Icelandic military personnel and other nationalities stationed at this air base, and one already knows the bonds of friendship that sharing paella establishes… A member of the Icelandic Coast Guard told us that we have become more of a ‘team”’ in four weeks than all the precedent detachments have done in several years. Apart from this, they have also highlighted our reliability and professionalism at work, both in the air and in land, and have acknowledged that they have learned from our work approach, such as the emergency simulated practice activities.

What is your takeaway message from this mission in Iceland that you will bring with you to Spain?

Perhaps it is too early to evaluate this mission. I am certain that, with the passage of time, I will become even more aware of the honour and responsibility of having been the head of ‘Stinga’ Detachment and the first Spanish contingent deployed in Iceland. Even so, I can only express now my gratitude to the Spanish Air and Space Force for bearing this responsibility, the support we have always received from Spain, both from our Spanish Air and Space Force and from the Operations Command. This ongoing support has become essential, and we have all deeply felt it.

On a more personal level, this mission has been a great challenge and an extremely intense experience, as we had only just begun Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) when we were already planning the withdrawal. Nevertheless, it has also been an excellent opportunity to test the operational capability and preparedness of the 15th Wing of our forces, which has given proof of its priceless value. This is certainly the second consecutive summer that I have spent away from my family, and I want to make it up to them when I return home. In the end, it is not only the effort of the military personnel who deploy abroad, but also the sacrifice of our families, to whom we are deeply grateful for their support and love.