News>Reserve Airmen fuel up NATO forces in Iceland exercise
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KEFLAVIK, Iceland -- Staff Sgt. Dana Fernkas, 756th Air Refueling Squadron, refuels a Royal Norwegian Air Force F-16 during the 2011 Northern Viking exercise here June 7. Northern Viking tests the capabilities of Iceland and the country's NATO allies, as well as "increase the readiness of the forces involved and their interoperability." The Reserve 459th Air Refueling Wing, Joint Base Andrews, Md., participated in this year's exercise along with other Air Force active-duty and Air National Guard wings. (U.S. Air Force photo released/Tech. Sgt. Steve Lewis)
KEFLAVIK, Iceland -- Staff Sgt. Dana Fernkas, 756th Air Refueling Squadron, refuels an F-16 from the 115th Fighter Wing, Wisconsin Air National Guard, during the 2011 Northern Viking exercise here June 7. Northern Viking tests the capabilities of Iceland and the country's NATO allies, as well as "increase the readiness of the forces involved and their interoperability." The Reserve 459th Air Refueling Wing, Joint Base Andrews, Md., participated in this year's exercise along with other total force Air Force contigents. (U.S. Air Force photo released/Tech. Sgt. Steve Lewis)
KEFLAVIK, Iceland -- Royal Norwegian Air Force F-16s fly off the wing of a 459th Air Refueling Wing KC-135 Stratotanker awaiting to receive fuel during Northern Viking 2011 here June 8. Northern Viking tests the capabilities of Iceland and the country's NATO allies, as well as "increase the readiness of the forces involved and their interoperability." The Reserve 459th Air Refueling Wing, Joint Base Andrews, Md., participated in this year's exercise along with other active-duty and Air National Guard units. (U.S. Air Force photo released/Tech. Sgt. Steve Lewis)
KEFLAVIK, Iceland -- Maj. Scott Clark (right), 756th Air Refueling Squadron pilot and exercise detachment commander, coordinates ground communications with 1st Lt. Kim Bruvik, Royal Norwegian Air Force flight controller, during the 2011 Northern Viking exercise here June 9. Northern Viking tests the capabilities of Iceland and the country's NATO allies, as well as "increase the readiness of the forces involved and their interoperability." The Reserve 459th Air Refueling Wing, Joint Base Andrews, Md., participated in this year's exercise along with other active-duty and Air National Guard units. (U.S. Air Force photo released/Tech. Sgt. Steve Lewis)
KEFLAVIK, Iceland -- Maj. Derck Mullin, 756th Air Refueling Squadron, adjusts the controls on an altitude warning system before preparing to refuel NATO aircraft during the 2011 Northern Viking exercise here June 9. Northern Viking tests the capabilities of Iceland and the country's NATO allies, as well as "increase the readiness of the forces involved and their interoperability." The Reserve 459th Air Refueling Wing, Joint Base Andrews, Md., participated in this year's exercise along with other active-duty and Air National Guard units. (U.S. Air Force photo released/Tech. Sgt. Steve Lewis)
KEFLAVIK, Iceland -- A Royal Norwegian Air Force F-16 flies off the wing of a 459th Air Refueling Wing KC-135 Stratotanker waiting to receive fuel during the Northern Viking 2011 exercise here June 9. Northern Viking tests the capabilities of Iceland and the country's NATO allies, as well as "increase the readiness of the forces involved and their interoperability." The Air Force Reserve 459th ARW, Joint Base Andrews, Md., participated in this year's exercise along with other active-duty and Air National Guard units. (U.S. Air Force photo released/Tech. Sgt. Steve Lewis)
KEFLAVIK, Iceland -- Air Force Reserve KC-135 pilots from the 459th Air Refueling Wing receive weather information over Iceland before taking off during the Northern Viking 2011 exercise here June 8. Northern Viking tests the capabilities of Iceland and the country's NATO allies, as well as "increase the readiness of the forces involved and their interoperability." The Reserve 459th Air Refueling Wing, Joint Base Andrews, Md., participated in this year's exercise along with other active-duty and Air National Guard units. (U.S. Air Force photo released/Tech. Sgt. Steve Lewis)
KEFLAVIK, Iceland -- Italian Air Force Lt. Serena Sbordone, provides a simulated intelligence briefing on surface to air threats to pilots during the 2011 Northern Viking exercise here June 8. Northern Viking tests the capabilities of Iceland and the country's NATO allies, as well as "increase the readiness of the forces involved and their interoperability." The Reserve 459th Air Refueling Wing, Joint Base Andrews, Md., participated in this year's exercise along with other active-duty and Air National Guard units. (U.S. Air Force photo released/Tech. Sgt. Steve Lewis)
KEFLAVIK, Iceland -- A Eurofighter Typhoon from the Italian Air Force prepares for takeoff during the 2011 Northern Viking exercise here June 10. Northern Viking tests the capabilities of Iceland and the country's NATO allies, as well as "increase the readiness of the forces involved and their interoperability." The Reserve 459th Air Refueling Wing, Joint Base Andrews, Md., participated in this year's exercise along with other active-duty and Air National Guard units. (U.S. Air Force photo released/Senior Airman Ryan Roth)
An F-16 from the 115th Fighter Wing, Madison, Wis., gets refueled from a KC-135 from the 459th Air Refueling Wing, Joint Air Base Andrews, Maryland, as they participate in Operation Northern Viking June 7, 2011, training with approximately 400 US and NATO forces in Iceland focusing mainly on air-space protection. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Ryan Roth)
KEFLAVIK, Iceland -- 459th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron specialists like Staff Sgt. Matt Gauvin from the Air Force Reserve worked around the clock during the Northern Viking 2011 exercise here June 3-10 to ensure their KC-135 Stratotanker was able to provide fuel to NATO forces. Northern Viking tests the capabilities of Iceland and the country's NATO allies, as well as "increase the readiness of the forces involved and their interoperability." The Reserve 459th Air Refueling Wing, Joint Base Andrews, Md., participated in this year's exercise along with other active-duty and Air National Guard units. (U.S. Air Force photo released/Tech. Sgt. Steve Lewis)
by Tech. Sgt. Steve Lewis
459th Air Refueling Wing public affairs
6/13/2011 - KELAVIK , Iceland -- Air Force Reserve Airmen and a KC-135 Stratotanker from the 459th Air Refueling Wing, Joint Base Andrews, Md., took part in Northern Viking 11, a biennial NATO air-space and maritime protection exercise here June 3-10, 2011.
This year approximately 450 NATO military members from the U.S., Norway, Italy, Iceland and Denmark worked side-by-side, simulating operations that prepare the countries to respond quickly to international conflict or emergency situations.
Reserve crews delivered nearly 130,000 pounds of fuel to fighter aircraft from the Royal Norwegian Air Force and the 115th Fighter Wing, Wisconsin Air National Guard.
"This exercise allows a venue for NATO forces to come together, train as we would fight, operate within the European theater and this kind of training provides that continuity from year-to-year to sustain our combat capability," said Air Force Col. Brian Vaughn, exercise director for NV11.
"It's been really great training across the board, for both us and the NATO forces. Scenarios like setting up a tanker cell with Italy and working with a totally integrated group of Reserve, Air National Guard and NATO forces all were great experiences," said Maj. Scott Clark, KC-135 pilot and 459th ARW detachment commander for the exercise.
For the Royal Norwegian Air Force especially, the exercise was an opportunity for new F-16 pilots to hone their skills in aerial refueling while working with the 459th ARW and the KC-135. In order to be combat-ready, RNAF pilots must stay current on tanker operations, which NV11 helps to provide.
Capt. Vegar Johansen, RNAF pilot and NV11 Norwegian detachment commander said this is the first deployment for many of his younger pilots participating in the exercise. He said exercises like NV11 allowed the pilots to prepare for real-world scenarios, like Operation Odyssey Dawn.
"Since we do not have any tankers in Norway, we have to rely on U.S. to get this type of training and allow our air force to be combat ready," Captain Johansen said.
Lt. Col. Ivan Rismo, NV11 detachment commander for Norwegian forces worked with Captain Johansen in overseeing air operations as well as coalition command and control operations on the ground.
"Air-to-air refueling and maintaining proficiency is a requirement for our pilots, so having an opportunity to come out and work with the U.S. tanker as part of the exercise is really great," Colonel Rismo said. "We are very happy to see this exercise come through and it is very interoperable in the way we are doing it."
The Italian Air Force also played an important role in the exercise. Their Eurofighter Typhoon pilots flew for the first time alongside F-16 pilots from the 115th FW and the RNAF in conducting daily missions.
In order to refuel the Eurofighters, Italy relied on their KC-130J, a propeller-based aircraft. Their pilots had to coordinate closely with the 459th ARW on unified tanker support, airspace usage and mission planning during the exercise.
"It was a great experience working with them [the 459th ARW] and coordinating the area. Safety was a must during the exercise and they did a good job." Italy Capt. Boria Luciano, 46th Air Brigade KC-130J pilot and team chief said.
