Crews from 42 (Torpedo Bomber) Squadron are conducting a series of sorties from Keflavík Air Base as part of the Poseidon Conversion Course, which trains personnel to operate the aircraft. The deployment involves two P-8A Poseidon aircraft and is intended to expose crews to an unfamiliar operational environment as they prepare for frontline duties.
The RAF said the North Atlantic remains a strategically significant region, with Iceland positioned at a key gateway to the High North. Operating from Keflavík allows crews to train in conditions reflective of real-world missions, including monitoring undersea activity and maintaining situational awareness in a heavily trafficked maritime environment.
The Poseidon aircraft is designed to detect and track submarines and surface vessels, forming part of the UK’s wider maritime defence posture. Training in Iceland is intended to build readiness for rapid deployment and improve the ability to operate alongside NATO allies in the region.
The deployment also supports ongoing cooperation with the Icelandic Coast Guard and contributes to NATO collective defence efforts. It forms part of the RAF’s broader Agile Combat Employment approach, which focuses on the ability to deploy and operate from a range of locations.
Air Marshal Allan Marshall said: “Our return to Iceland provides an excellent training opportunity and demonstrates the UK’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding the North Atlantic. Operating from Keflavík gives our Poseidon crews the realism and challenge needed to maintain the highest levels of readiness.”