included introducing the Link 16 data-
link system, an electronic warfare suite
upgrade and integrating the Joint Helmet-
Mounted Cueing System (JHMCS). The
final upgraded Hornet under the second
phase was delivered in March 2010.
Successful deployment
ATF-Iceland concluded on June 19 when the
six CF-188s and most support personnel
headed home. “Quite honestly, the most
challenging part was the short duration of
the mission,” said Lieutenant-Colonel (LCol)
William Mitchell, commander of both 433
Squadron and ATF-Iceland. “It is extremely
challenging to plan for, deploy, sustain
and redeploy over such a short period, as
normal operational deployments would
typically extend to six months or more.
There is a significant amount of logistical
pieces that need to be detailed and thought
through in order to make this a success
since time is not a luxury that we have.”
LCol Mitchell began flying at the age of
14 in the Cessna 172, enrolled at Mount
Royal University in Calgary, Alberta under its
Business Aviation Program and graduated
with a commercial IFR rating. From there
he joined the RCAF and amassed 190 flying
hours on the Cessna 172, followed by 150
hours on the CT-156 Harvard II, and 150
hours with 410 Tactical Fighter (Operational
Training) Squadron on the CT-155 Hawk. He
has now amassed 2,205 hours on the CF-188.
LCol Mitchell praised the good co-operation
with the Icelandic Coast Guard and people
of Iceland: “Members of Air Task Force-
Iceland have interacted considerably
with the Icelandic Coast Guard from an
aerospace control perspective, as well as for
logistical support for operations at Keflavík.
Additionally, the ATF relies on the ICG for
search and rescue response in the event of
an aircraft emergency in remote locations
in Iceland or offshore. Our co-operation
with the ICG has been tremendous and
their members have been of great help
enabling our operations. Our aerospace
control personnel worked hand-in-hand with
ICG members at the Control and Reporting
Centre at Keflavík and we could not execute
this aspect of our mission without their local
expertise and knowledge. We are proud
and thankful to have worked alongside such
professionals and are happy to support
safety and security measures in the skies
of an important NATO ally. The people
of Keflavík have also warmly welcomed
us and our members have enjoyed the
exceptional hospitality shown to them
throughout Iceland. We were also able to
play some ice hockey games against local
teams, hosted visits for a local flying school
and took part in the Reykjavík Air Show
with a CF-188 static display on June 3.”
In total ATF-Iceland conducted 270 CF-188
flying hours during 172 sorties. Although
no ‘hostile’ aircraft were intercepted,
LCol Mitchell looked back on a successful
deployment: “After flying the Hornet for 12
years and five operational tours including
combat, all missions are unique and exciting
in their own way. Every mission is different,whether it’s operational or training – that’s
the best part about being a fighter pilot.
It is a privilege to command and fly the
CF-188 Hornet but it is always the personnel
that I serve with, their commitment and
sacrifice that impresses me the most.”Upcoming deployments
The next NATO fighter deployment to
Iceland is due to take place in September
and will involve a yet to be announced
USAF or USAFE unit. Following the mission
to Iceland, aircraft and personnel from 4
Wing at CFB Cold Lake are scheduled to
deploy to Romania in September, also as
part of Operation Reassurance. “These Air
Task Force deployments aim to conduct
periodic surveillance and air policing
operations in NATO areas of responsibility,
and participate in joint training activities
with other nations,” LCol Mitchell concluded.
“The Romanian Air Force retains primacy
in response to any incursion in their
airspace. Royal Canadian Air Force CF-188s
will support them when required.”The most recent Royal Canadian Air Force
deployment to Iceland was executed as part
of Operation Reassurance, continuing work
previously performed under Operation Ignition in
2011 and 2013.Above: A two-ship of CF-188s breaks away over the volcanic landscape of Iceland. The CF-188 has
undergone an intensive upgrade over the last decade to keep it flying until at least 2025.AFMhttp://www.airforcesmonthly.com #354 SEPTEMBER 2017 // 87