SEPTEMBER 4, 2026 – U.S. Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa personnel and other NATO allied forces concluded Exercise Northern Viking 26, Sept. 3, capping nine days of multidomain operations designed to safeguard security in the High North.
Hosted by Iceland and led by U.S. Naval Forces Europe – Africa, the exercise united U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy and allied personnel from 11 nations to sharpen combat readiness, deepen interoperability and reinforce deterrence in the increasingly contested Arctic.
Participating U.S. units included the 86th Airlift Wing and the 435th Air-Ground Operations Wing from Ramstein Air Base, Germany; the 147th Attack Wing, Texas Air National Guard; the 38th Rescue Squadron, Moody Air Force Base, Georgia; and various U.S. Navy units.
NV26 focused on refining tactics, techniques and procedures needed to execute multi-domain command and control of joint and coalition forces in defense of Iceland and NATO-critical infrastructure in the region. In alignment with the U.S.-Icelandic bilateral defense agreement celebrating 75 years of collaboration, the exercise demonstrated the ongoing commitment to uphold a secure and stable Arctic and North Atlantic region.
“Northern Viking is precisely a dynamic, practical demonstration of the commitments we have made to one another, underpinned by our shared interests,” said Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir, minister for foreign affairs of Iceland. “Our readiness cannot be improvised during a crisis; it must be practiced, tested and refined beforehand.”
During the exercise, the 37th Airlift Squadron honed its capability to deter and defend in the Arctic by executing austere landings on grass and sand landing zones. They also integrated into search and rescue missions while responding to the challenging conditions that impact flying in the High North. The 86th Medical Group focused on growing aeromedical evacuation capabilities, refining processes to configure their mission to any available aircraft.
Participants strengthened expeditionary capabilities, enabling them to surge quickly to diverse locations as required. The nearly two weeks of forward-based training culminated in simulated mass-casualty and search-and-rescue events where Icelandic personnel and U.S. pararescuemen from the 38th RQS collaborated to secure the scene, stabilize patients and execute aeromedical transfer to higher levels of care.
“Operating in the rugged Icelandic environment provided realistic training that further strengthened our readiness to respond to any search-and-rescue event in the High North,” said U.S. Air Force Capt. Luke Hamlin, 38th RQS combat rescue officer. “It was tremendously valuable working shoulder-to-shoulder with the Icelandic Coast Guard, building cohesion and sharing expertise. We executed complex crisis responses together, and I’m confident that we are ready to respond to any contingency.”
For USAFE – AFAFRICA units, the exercise served as a proving ground for cutting-edge capabilities and new unit certifications, while reinforcing joint operational procedures with allied military and civil authorities.
“For 75 years, Iceland and the United States have built such a relationship,” Gunnarsdóttir said. “Today, together with allies from across NATO, we continue to put that relationship into practice. That is what Northern Viking is about.”
By 2nd Lt. Olivia Bertaud
86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs