Northern Viking is an annual NATO exercise held in Iceland. The exercises were held biennially until 2006 when the frequency was increased. The purpose of the exercise is to test the capabilities of Iceland and its NATO allies, as well as increase the readiness of the forces involved and their inter-operability.
Northern Viking 2022 Several NATO member states participated in the exercises in 2022. The United States Navy, in a press release, described 2022's exercise as "a hunt for adversary submarines" and "visit, board, search and seizure missions on suspect vessels."
Participants
ICGV Þór
USS Arlington CH-53E Sea Stallions 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit USS Kearsarge
FS Latouche-Tréville
HNoMS Thor Heyerdahl
FGS Sachsen
Royal Marine Commandos
Northern Viking 2011 Northern Viking 2011 was held by the Icelandic Coast Guard and the United States Air Forces in Europe (USAFE). Among the training exercises were transport of troops to and from Iceland and air defence. The exercise also tested cooperation of naval and air assets in view of increasing importance arctic operations.
Participants
ICG: 3 offshore patrol vessels USAF: F-16 fighters, 3 KC-135 air-refueling planes RNoAF: F-16 fighters AM: Eurofighter Typhoon fighters RDN: 1 Thetis-class patrol vessel, 1 Lynx helicopter
Northern Viking 2008 Northern Viking 2008 was held by the Icelandic Defence Agency and the United States European Command (EUCOM). More than 400 foreign troops were deployed to Icelandic bases with aircraft and a Danish warship.
Participants
Operations
The exercise consisted of an air defence exercise and a maritime defence exercise.
Air defence exercise
ICG: 2 SAR-helicopters USAF: 4 fighters, 3 KC-135 air-refueling planes RNoAF: 5 F-16 fighters RCAF: 6 CF-18 fighters NATO: 2 E-3 AWACS planes
Maritime defence exercise
ICG: 1 Ægir-class offshore patrol vessel, 1 helicopter RDN: 1 Thetis-class patrol vessel USN: 2 P-3 Orion ASW aircraft
Northern Viking 2007 Northern Viking 2007 was held by the Icelandic MFA Office of Defence and the United States European Command (EUCOM). More than 240 foreign troops were deployed to Icelandic bases with aircraft and a Danish warship.
Participants
Operations
The exercise consisted of an air defence exercise and an anti-terrorist exercise.
Air defence exercise
ICG: 2 SAR-helicopters USAF: 3 F-15 fighters, 2 KC-135 air-refueling planes RDN: 1 Thetis-class frigate RNoAF: 2 F-16 fighters, 1 P-3 Orion ASW aircraft NATO: 2 E-3 AWACS planes
Anti-terrorist exercise
: 15 Víkingasveitin troops, 1 helicopter : 6 Jægerkorpset troops, 1 helicopter : 16 Latvian Special Tasks Unit troops : 20 Forsvarets Spesialkommando (FSK) troops
References
Varnaræfingin Norður Víkingur 2008 Varnaræfingin Norður Víkingur 07