Iceland lacks a standing army, navy, or air force—relying instead on NATO to defend it, including the alliance’s newest member.

The Saab JAS 39 Gripen multirole fighter has gained favor worldwide, and could be operating on at least four continents in the coming years. Indeed, six of the Swedish-made aircraft are now protecting the skies of Iceland.

Following its entry into NATO in 2024—marking the most recent addition to the alliance—Sweden has begun its first air policing mission to Iceland, as the island nation maintains no standing army, navy, or air force. As part of a 1951 bilateral defense agreement with the United States, NATO maintains the security of the former Danish colony.

The Saab JAS 39 Gripen’s Specifications

• Year Introduced: 1996
• Number Built: ~300
• Length: 14.9 m (48 ft 11 in) JAS 39C/E / 15.6 m (51 ft) JAS 39D/F
• Wingspan: Approximately 8.4 m (27 ft 6 in)
• Weight (MTOW): 14,000 kg (30,865 lb)
• Engines: One General Electric GE-F414G afterburning turbofan (E/F variants)
• Top Speed: ~2,100 km/h (1,300 mph) / Mach 2
• Range: 800 km (500 mi, 430 nmi)
• Service Ceiling: 15,240 m (50,000 ft)
• Loadout: 27 mm Mauser BK-27 cannon (omitted on the two-seat variants), including air-to-air missiles such as the AIM-9 Sidewinder, air-to-ground missiles such as the AGM-65 Maverick, and anti-ship missiles such as the RBS-15
• Aircrew: 1-2

Gripens Are Leading Sweden’s Air Policing Mission

Sweden confirmed that a detachment of six JAS 39 Gripen C aircraft, supported by NATO Airbus KC-30M Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft, which provided refueling en route, arrived at Keflavík Air Base last week, along with more than 110 personnel from the Swedish Air Force’s (SwAF’s) Skaraborg Air Wing F7.

“This rotation, running from early February to mid-March 2026, represents the first time the Swedish Air Force have led NATO’s Icelandic air policing mission since their accession to NATO in March 2024,” the alliance announced.

It added that “Air Policing is a cornerstone of NATO’s collective defence posture,” noting that missions to protect Iceland’s skies began in 2008. Member nations’ aircraft provide “Airborne Surveillance and Interception Capabilities” to ensure “Iceland’s Peacetime Preparedness Needs” (ASIC IPPN).

While deployed to Iceland, the JAS 39 Gripen aircraft will operate under the direction of the Keflavik Main Command Center and the NATO Combined Air Operations Centre (CAOC) in Uedem, Germany.

“We have been planning this operation for a long time, and it feels both interesting and important given the current international security situation,” said Lieutenant Colonel Johan Legardt, Sweden’s detachment Commander. “The mission is aimed at the collective defence of Icelandic airspace, and it feels good to be able to contribute.”

During the deployment, the Swedish aircrews will coordinate with the Icelandic Coast Guard, the nation’s only military force.

The Gripen Was Designed for the Nordic Region

The six Swedish Air Force aircraft will carry out the NATO Air Policing mission, which is “routine but vital tasks contribute to deterrence, crisis prevention, and assurance of Allied solidarity—particularly in high-latitude regions such as the Arctic.” The environment presents several “unique operational challenges, including harsh weather, extended distances, and challenging flight conditions.”

However, the JAS 39 could be considered well-suited to operating in Iceland, even in the final months of winter. The supersonic, multi-role fighter jet is capable of air combat and air-to-ground missions. It was designed for the Swedish Air Force and can operate from austere facilities, including remote roads turned into temporary runways. The Gripen is equipped with reinforced landing gear that positions the airframe high above the ground to prevent any debris from being sucked into the jet engine’s air intake. The fighter was also designed for low maintenance, which has been seen as an advantage over such aircraft as the US-made F-16 Fighting Falcon.

Even before Sweden formally joined NATO, the Gripen had operated alongside alliance aircraft. In the summer of 2025, the JAS 39 conducted joint patrols with US bombers, including a US Air Force Rockwell B-1B Lancer over the Baltic.

About the Author: Peter Suciu

Peter Suciu has contributed over 3,200 published pieces to more than four dozen magazines and websites over a 30-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a contributing writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. He is based in Michigan. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: Editor@nationalinterest.org.

Image: Shutterstock / JMMJ.

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