Canadian CF-18 Hornet fighter jets to begin patrolling in Iceland today | iNFOnews.ca
FILE PHOTO - A pilot positions a CF-18 Hornet at the CFB Cold Lake, in Cold Lake, Alberta on October 21, 2014. The Royal Canadian Air Force is contending with a shortage of around 275 pilots and needs more mechanics, sensor operators and other trained personnel as well in the face of increasing demands to conduct and support domestic and international missions. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson

Canadian CF-18 Hornet fighter jets to begin patrolling in Iceland today

Canadian CF-18 fighter jets will begin patrolling Iceland's airspace today as part of Canada's contribution to NATO.

The operation is intended to identify and intercept aircraft that approach NATO airspace in Iceland.

About 180 members of the Canadian Forces will be involved in the roughly month long operation that involves six CF-18 fighter jets.

The aircraft will operate out of Keflavik Air Base, near Reykjavik.

The campaign is part of Operation Reassurance, intended to reinforce the defence of NATO countries in Central and Eastern Europe.

Operation Reassurance is also intended to ease concerns of NATO allies in the face of Russian aggression toward Ukraine.

Iceland is the only NATO country that does not have a standing military.

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Brendan Kergin

Brendan grew up down on the coast before moving to Kamloops to pursue a degree in journalism. After graduating from TRU in 2013 he moved to Toronto to work as an editor, but decided to move back west after a couple years. With a big interest in politics, Brendan will be covering city hall. Outside of council chambers he’ll write about anything; if you have a story you think people might be interested in, contact him at bkergin@infonews.ca


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