Photo By Senior Airman Asiah Phillips | Texas Air National Guard MQ-9 flies into Keflavik Air Base during an exercise for...... read more read more
KEFLAVIK, Iceland — The Texas Air National Guard’s 147th Attack Wing made history during Formidable Shield 2025, executing the first-ever MQ-9 Reaper flight out of Iceland in support of the largest live-fire maritime exercise in Europe. Hosted at Keflavik Air Base by the Islandic Coast Guard, the exercise spanned May 9–27 and brought together more than 3,000 personnel from nine NATO nations to demonstrate alliance readiness and interoperability in defense of the North Atlantic region.
This milestone operation showcased the 147th’s capacity to deliver Agile Combat Employment (ACE) through strategic deployment and execution of MQ-9 combat airpower. In total, the Wing flew over 70 flight hours in support of maritime operations including surface surveillance coordination, maritime intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, and war-at-sea scenarios across the Hebrides Range off the coast of Scotland.
“The primary goal for this exercise specially for our MQ-9 was to establish a relationship with Keflavik Air Base and the Icelandic Coast Guard,” said Major Walton, Operations Lead for the 147th on Formidable Shield. “Being able to create sustained operations here is a big goal. I would say the secondary goal was being able to transit and participate in the formidable shield exercise alongside the Navy P-8s and our NATO partners.”
The 147 ATKW deployed to Iceland with 55 personnel, an MQ-9, and support equipment using three U.S. Air National Guard (ANG)-operated C-17 Globemaster III aircraft. This ACE package established a hub for Reaper operations at Keflavik Air Base and served as proof of concept for future MQ-9 transatlantic flights and operations in the North Atlantic.
The key infrastructure milestones include having the first-ever Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) operations from Keflavik Air Base, establishing standard operating procedures for RPA operations with Icelandic Air Navigation Services, operating the first MQ-9 in UK airspace, off the coast of Scotland, and integrating with European air traffic control and government agencies, enabling smooth coordination across multiple airspaces.
Formidable Shield 2025 featured 16 ships and 25 aircraft from Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, and the United Kingdom. The 147th worked in close collaboration with U.S. Navy and NATO partners, building a multi-layered joint operational environment.
The team’s effectiveness drew international attention. Danish Air Force aircrew observed two full days of MQ-9 operations—from mission briefings to post-flight debriefs—further enhancing inter-allied knowledge-sharing and strengthening coalition ties.
Beyond tactical success, the operation has strategic implications. By establishing Keflavik as a potential hub-and-spoke location for MQ-9s, the 147th has unlocked new possibilities for persistent ISR and rapid response capabilities across the North Atlantic and Arctic regions. The integration of MQ-9s into European airspace now serves as a blueprint for future Reaper operations in support of U.S. European Command (EUCOM) and NATO objectives.
Formidable Shield 2025 affirmed that the Air National Guard is not just ready at home—but ready anywhere. Through unmatched professionalism, operational agility, and seamless integration with NATO partners, the 147th Attack Wing once again proved its role as a vital player in America’s national defense strategy.
| Date Taken: | 06.06.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 06.07.2025 06:59 |
| Story ID: | 499866 |
| Location: | KEFLAVIK, IS |
| Web Views: | 161 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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