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History of NAS Keflavik Iceland

Naval Air Station (NAS) Keflavik, Iceland, was established by the United States Navy in 1951 as part of a defense agreement with Iceland and NATO. Strategically located on the North Atlantic, the unit played a critical role during the Cold War, supporting anti-submarine warfare operations and monitoring Soviet naval activity. NAS Keflavik hosted a variety of U.S. Navy, Air Force, and NATO units, serving as a key refueling, logistics, and surveillance hub. The station remained active until 2006, when U.S. forces withdrew and the base was returned to Icelandic control, though it remains available for NATO operations.

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ABOUT NAS Keflavik Iceland

  • Strategic Cold War Location: NAS Keflavik, located in Iceland, was a key NATO outpost during the Cold War, monitoring Soviet submarine and aircraft activity in the North Atlantic.
  • Origins in World War II: The base’s origins date to 1942, built by the U.S. Army Air Forces as Meeks Field, playing a crucial role in ferrying aircraft across the Atlantic.
  • US-Iceland Defense Agreement: In 1951, the United States and Iceland signed a defense agreement, which formalized the U.S. military presence at Keflavik for NATO defense.
  • Multi-National Operations: While operated by the U.S. Navy, NAS Keflavik also hosted units from the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Marine Corps, and occasionally other NATO allies.
  • Home to the 57th Fighter Interceptor Squadron: The "Black Knights" flew F-4 Phantom II and later F-15 Eagles, providing air defense for Iceland and the North Atlantic.
  • Submarine Tracking Hub: Keflavik’s Patrol Squadrons flew P-3 Orion aircraft, conducting anti-submarine warfare (ASW) patrols and tracking Soviet submarines passing through the GIUK (Greenland-Iceland-UK) gap.
  • Family Life on the Edge of the Arctic: The base included schools, a hospital, and amenities for U.S. military families enduring Iceland’s unique climate and isolation.
  • Frequent Emergency Landings: Due to its geographic location, NAS Keflavik became a vital emergency landing site for transatlantic commercial and military flights.
  • Closure and Return to Iceland: In 2006, the United States closed NAS Keflavik and returned the property to Iceland, ending decades of continuous U.S. military presence.
  • Recent Renewed Interest: In the 2010s and 2020s, the U.S. military began periodic deployments back to Keflavik, modernizing facilities to counter renewed Russian military activity in the North Atlantic.

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