Commander Fleet Air Keflavik [COMFAIRKEF]
Commander Fleet Air Keflavik is the senior Navy command in Iceland, responsible for the operational readiness of Navy units assigned. The commander of Fleet Air Keflavik is the operational commander in charge of all Navy and anti-submarine warfare operations. Administratively, COMFAIRKEF reports to Commander, Naval Air Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, located in Norfolk, Va.
The command coordinates and controls the maritime operations of the P-3 Orion squadrons that are deployed on a six month rotational basis to Naval Air Station Keflavik. Usually the assigned squadrons maintain four aircraft, five aircrews and approximately 180 personnel on island. NATO involvement plays a large part in day to day operations as allied aircrews and aircraft routinely operate with US Navy forces at NAS Keflavik. MPA (Maritime Patrol Aircraft) assets from the UK, Canada, Norway, Netherlands, Germany, and France regularly participate in coordinated exercises, and these countries also provide surface ships and submarines to enhance the training program. In addition to the U.S. deployed P-3s, The Netherlands Royal Navy has one P-3 Orion permanently assigned here which is fully integrated into the local MPA organization.
Operations from Iceland initially developed during the turbulance of World War II. The geographical proximity of Iceland to the convoy routes is underscored by the fact that more German U-boats were sunk by aircraft based in Iceland than anywhere else in the world. After the war, control of military facilities passed from Britain to the United States.
Naval aviation has always played a large role in the operations at Keflavík, especially with regard to the enormous build-up of the Soviet Navy. Deployment of patrol squadron detachments, and later entire squadrons, started as early as 1951, with the P-2 "Neptune" maritime patrol aircraft succeeded by the Lockheed P-3 "Orion" in the mid-1960s. In 1955, Barrier Force, Atlantic had been established in Argentia, Newfoundland, flying radar early-warning missions using the WV-2 (EC-121) "Warning Star" aircraft in the North Atlantic from 1957. These aircraft made frequent deployments to Keflavík. On July 1, 1961, Commander Barrier Force, Atlantic moved from Argentia to Keflavík and, as a result -- for better logistical and operational control together with the increased emphasis on maritime strategy in the region -- the Navy relieved the Air Force as host military service in Iceland and Naval Station Keflavík was established. The duties of Commander, Iceland Defense Force were assumed by the rear admiral commanding Barrier Force Atlantic.
The fundamental structure of the Iceland Defense Force has not changed much since 1961 when the US Navy took over as host service. During the 1970s and 80s, the Navy increased their maritime patrolling from Iceland. The US Naval Station, Keflavík, renamed US Naval Air Station, Keflavík in 1986, provides logistical support for the Defense Force, while the maritime patrol forces under Commander, Iceland Sector Antisubmarine Warfare Group maintain surveillance and an antisubmarine warfare capability and the 85th Group - Air Forces Iceland provides for air defense. In the 1970s there were signs of a greatly increased capabilities in the Soviet Northern Fleet to operate effectively in the North Atlantic. Meeting the increased threat required considerable upgrade of operational as well as command and control facilities in Iceland. In 1985 it was agreed to station a Royal Netherlands Navy P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft at Keflavík. This aircraft, as well as MPA aircraft of other NATO countries that regularly deploy to Keflavík, operates as a part of the assigned maritime patrol forces. Contingency plans provide for the augmentation of the peacetime force level in Iceland with the deployment of earmarked air and ground units appropriate to the threat at hand.
CFK is organized into five main departments: N1-Admin; N2-Intel; N3-Operations [Tactical Support Center]; N4-ADP/Maint; and N5-Plans & Projects. Each works in concert with the others to ensure mission success. The N1 Administration Department of Commander Fleet Air Keflavik is responsible for the proper handling of all correspondence, reports, and directives. The department works in conjunction with the NAS Keflavik tenant commands in the handling of all awards, as well as the Personnel Support Detachment to handle all personnel matters. The Administrative Officer, Assistant Administrative Officer, Leading Chief Petty Officer, and a group of yeoman handle all of the assigned tasks. Included in the administrative department is the First Lieutenant division, consisting of a BM and a SN, who are responsible for the material condition of the COMFAIRKEF and Combined Operations Center spaces.
The N2 department at Command, Fleet Air Keflavik, combines the expertise of the J2, N2, and Air Force components to provide intelligence and communications support to several entities, among them: Commander, Fleet Air Keflavik; Commander, Iceland Defense Force; Tactical Support Center, Keflavik; Naval Air Station Keflavik; Deployed P-3 Squadron; and National Criminal Investigative Service. The Area of Responsibility for intelligence support includes the Northern Atlantic Ocean, extending down to the Azores, and the Norwegian Sea. An Intelligence Duty Officer watch is manned by E-7 and above and coordinates watches, briefs, and overall intel support to the above commands. There are two 24 hour watches, manned by an Intelligence Specialist and a Cryptologic Technician (Operations) on a 12 hour rotating basis. These watches are responsible for providing tactical intelligence and communications support. The N2 department also provides manning for the Special Security Office, which is responsible for the management and administration of security billets at all commands on base.
The Plans and Projects Department of Commander Fleet Air Keflavik is responsible for the planning and conduct of all exercises and training opportunities for both USN Maritime Patrol Squadron crews deployed to Iceland and visiting allied MPA crews. They also coordinate potential off-island travel opportunities with detaching Patrol Squadron aircraft. The department works closely with other CFK departments (especially N3) as well as the resident Patrol Squadron detachment to coordinate aircrew training options. The staff maintains a vast array of professional contacts in both Europe and North America so as to both ensure awareness of, and improve access to, multi-lateral, bi-lateral, and NATO anti-submarine exercises. The department is headed by the Plans and Projects Officer, who is always a Canadian Forces Exchange Officer. Assisting in the accomplishment of all tasks are a Royal Netherlands Navy Liaison Officer as well as the Plans Officer, Assistant Plans Officer, and senior Petty Officers.
The Automated Data Processing (ADP)/Maintenance Department is responsible for the maintenance and support of all acoustical analysis, tactical, and administrative data processing equipment located throughout Commander, Fleet Air, Keflavik and Tactical Support Center, Keflavik. The department is headed by a chief warrant officer and consists of DS/ET, DP/RM, AT and AK personnel divided into two divisions - ADP and Maintenance. Each division is led by a chief petty officer acting in the capacity of a division officer. The ADP Division provides USW and ASUW software services to U.S., NATO, and Allied Maritime Patrol Aircraft and performs all system administrator and software support requirements on installed tactical, unclassified, and classified LANs. The Maintenance Division is tasked with the scheduled/unscheduled maintenance and logistic support on installed acoustical analysis, tactical, and administrative equipment systems in accordance with 3M system directives.
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