Belgian F-16 Fighting Falcons train in the Arctic during NATO Northern Viking 26

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Belgian Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon fighters have deployed to the Arctic theatre alongside allied forces from the United States and Europe for NATO’s joint exercise “Northern Viking 26”. The deployment supports the defence of Iceland, as well as the sea lanes and critical infrastructure around the Greenland-Iceland-United Kingdom (GIUK) gap. In August, the Belgian Air Force took over Iceland’s Air Defence mission, deploying personnel and F-16 aircraft to Keflavik Air Base.

👉 Read more: British aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth returns to service to lead a three-month deployment in Northern Europe

Belgian F-16 Fighting Falcon training during Northern Viking 26

During the latest “Northern Viking 26” activity, the Belgian Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon contingent trained alongside a United States Air Force C-130J Super Hercules. “Training together means being ready together: integrating allied air power, strengthening collective defence and demonstrating NATO’s ability to respond where and when needed,” NATO’s Allied Joint Force Command Norfolk stated on social media.

The exercise brings together member countries including the United States, Iceland, Belgium, Denmark, Canada, Finland, France, Lithuania, Germany, Norway and Poland. Allied Maritime Command and NATO’s Joint Force Command Norfolk are also involved in a range of maritime and air training scenarios aimed at strengthening interoperability and improving joint readiness and planning capabilities.

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Belgium’s participation in NATO air defence operations

On 17 August, the Belgian Air Force assumed responsibility for Iceland’s Air Defence mission as part of NATO’s “Arctic Sentry” operation. The Belgian air detachment, comprising deployed personnel and 4 F-16 Fighting Falcon fighters, arrived on 7 August and will remain in Iceland for one month. Its deployment forms part of NATO Air Defence, a new multi-layered approach applied across all operational domains to address emerging and future threats of every kind.

“Northern Viking” exercise

The biennial “Northern Viking 26” exercise is part of NATO’s enhanced “Arctic Sentry” vigilance activity, intended to reinforce allied deterrence and defence capabilities in the Arctic and the High North. The 2026 edition of “Northern Viking” is currently under way in the North Atlantic region, having begun on 22 August and continuing until 3 September under United States leadership.

Training activities include anti-submarine warfare, mine countermeasures, expeditionary construction, search and rescue, humanitarian medical response and disaster response. “Northern Viking 26” also marks the 75th anniversary of the 1951 Bilateral Defence Agreement between the United States and Iceland.