As part of our TARASSIS series of activities, the Joint Expeditionary Force carried out a security recce of key infrastructure sites across some of the most remote parts of Iceland.
From 22 September 2025, for a week, nine site security experts from the UK’s RAF Regiment, Denmark’s Home Guard and Army Command, the Finnish Air Force Command, Icelandic Police and Coast Guard surveyed security at various locations across the island.
The purpose of this work is to refine JEF Response Options (JROs) in support of Iceland’s National Defence Plans (NDP) to protect Icelandic Mission Vital Infrastructure (MVI) sites in a crisis.
Defending NATO’s norther flank
The experts looked at every aspect of security at the sites, which operate day and night to support NATO’s northern flank.
The aim of this work is to grow and refine JROs in the face of a threat to any of the key installations, so that other JEF nations can quickly offer effective military support to the Icelandic authorities in their response.
This activity might include a physical presence or making use of the latest technology, potentially including counter-UAS system.
The JEF team lead, Danish Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Peter Bakkestroem, said: “TARASSIS activities range from Norway to the Baltic states to Iceland across all military domains which demonstrates our readiness to help participant nations defend every bit of their territorial integrity.”
“Our work with our hosts in Iceland also complements NATO as guarantor and lead planner for deterrence and defence in Europe.”
A multi-national, multi-Domain effort
This activity came under the umbrella of TARASSIS, the largest series of live activities undertaken by the JEF since its formation in 2014.
Beginning in early September and running until mid-October, TARASSIS involves hundreds of troops, sailors and aircrew, dozens of ships and aircraft operating across the North Atlantic and northern Europe.
TARASSIS brings together a series of military activities to demonstrate the ability of the JEF to act collectively and project power in response to a threat to regional security.
Multi-national and multi-domain by design, TARASSIS is incorporating activities in the Land, Sea, Air, Space and Cyber domains.
As well as JEF nations, Canadian forces will participate in TARASSIS. Interaction with NATO exercises will also showcase the JEF’s ability both to act independently and to complement the NATO Alliance.
Photo credit: Guðmann Rúnar Lúðvíksson, Icelandic Coast Guard