Government approves Czech Army’s surveillance mission of Icelandic airspace

The government has approved the Czech Army’s surveillance mission of Icelandic airspace, the spokesman for the Defence Ministry Petr Medek said on Wednesday. The Czech Republic will deploy five Jas-39 Gripen fighter jets for a period of six weeks in July and August. The mission was originally to be carried out by Canadian pilots, who will instead be involved in operation against Islamic State. The Czech air force took its turn protecting Icleand’s airspace last autumn over the course of nine weeks. Iceland is the only NATO member state with no air force of its own and the activities of Russian air forces allegedly intensified close to the Icelandic airspace.

Author: Ruth Fraňková