Northern Viking tests command, control capabilities

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. J. LaVoie
  • 48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
KEFLAVIK AIRPORT, Iceland (AFPN) --  An unidentified aircraft is headed toward Iceland's coast. The aircraft is not in contact with the tower, and two F-15 Eagles deployed from Royal Air Force Lakenheath in England scramble to intercept the suspicious aircraft. 

This is the scenario playing itself out several times during Northern Viking 2007, an air defense exercise testing the command and control capabilities of NATO forces in Iceland.

"After we scramble, we get a vector to the aircraft from (airborne warning and control system), who are tracking the aircraft," said Capt. Dan Johnson, a 493rd Fighter Squadron pilot. "Using the information we get from AWACS, we intercept the aircraft."

The pilots then visually identify the aircraft, which in the case of Northern Viking '07, is a Norwegian P-3. After identifying the P-3, and getting directions from command, they shadowed the aircraft for a few minutes before returning to base.

"The logical conclusion would be to escort them to a base," Captain Johnson said.

The scenario, which was developed to exercise and train aircrews from participating nations in the conduct of air operations in defense of Iceland, is a realistic one, Captain Johnson said.

"We practice this mission at Lakenheath," he said. "In the past, we have also been assigned this type of mission -- it's called air policing."

This exercise; however, allowed pilots to experience something new.

"It gives us the opportunity to come to Iceland to work with other countries. We don't do that every day," he said. "It's how we do the job now. Whatever we are doing real world, we are doing with other countries, and not just different countries, but different airframes. 

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