Northern Viking
Northern Viking is an annual NATO exercise held in Iceland. The exercises were held biennially until 2006 when the frequency was increased. The purpose of the exercise is to test the capabilities of Iceland and its NATO allies, as well as increase the readiness of the forces involved and their inter-operability.
Northern Viking 2011
Northern Viking 2011 was held by the Icelandic Coast Guard and the United States Air Forces in Europe (USAFE). Among the training exercises were transport of troops to and from Iceland and Air Defence. The exercise also tested cooperation of naval and air assets in view of increasing importance arctic operations.
Participants
ICG 3 Offshore Patrol vessels
USAF F-16 fighters, 3 KC-135 air-refueling planes
RNoAF F-16 fighters
AM Eurofighter Typhoon fighters
RDN 1 Thetis class, 1 Lynx helicopter
Northern Viking 2008
Northern Viking 2008 was held by the Icelandic Defence Agency and the United States European Command (EUCOM). More than 400 foreign troops were deployed to Icelandic Bases with aircraft and a Danish warship.
Participants
Operations
The exercise consisted of an air defence exercise and a maritime defence exercise.
Air defence exercise
- ICG 2 SAR-helicopters
- USAF 4 fighters, 3 KC-135 air-refueling planes
- RNoAF 5 F-16 fighters
RCAF 6 CF-18 fighters
NATO 2 E-3 AWACS planes
Maritime defence exercise
- ICG 1 Ægir-class offshore patrol vessel, 1 helicopter
- RDN 1 Thetis class
- USN 2 P-3 Orion ASW aircraft
Northern Viking 2007
Northern Viking 2007 was held by the Icelandic MFA Office of Defence and the United States European Command (EUCOM). More than 240 foreign troops were deployed to Icelandic Bases with aircraft and a Danish warship.
Participants
Operations
The exercise consisted of an air defence exercise and an anti-terrorist exercise.
Air defence exercise
- ICG 2 SAR-helicopters
- USAF 3 F-15 fighters, 2 KC-135 air-refueling planes
- RDN 1 Thetis class frigate
- RNoAF 2 F-16 fighters, 1 P-3 Orion ASW aircraft
- NATO 2 E-3 AWACS planes
Anti-terrorist exercise
- 15 Víkingasveitin troops, 1 helicopter
- 6 Jægerkorpset troops, 1 helicopter
16 Latvian Special Tasks Unit troops- 20 Forsvarets Spesialkommando (FSK) troops