IV. The Smaller NATO Air Forces: In Search of a Viable Niche

Abstract

The majority of NATO member states operate small air forces, with limited fleets of older thirdor fourth-generation fast jets, alongside rotary-winged assets for search and rescue as well as army-cooperation duties. A few countries such as Poland and Norway, as well as NATO partner states Sweden and Finland, do consider self-defence in a kinetic conflict against Russia as part of their core defence planning assumptions. However, for many smaller NATO states which operate fast jet fleets, it is not always clear what the national requirements for combat air capabilities are beyond quick reaction alert (QRA) scrambles within national airspace. Nonetheless, many of these countries regularly join US-led air campaigns, including those against Daesh in Iraq and Syria, Qadhafi’s forces in Libya and the Taliban in Afghanistan. The Baltic states, Luxembourg, Iceland, Montenegro, Albania and Slovenia do not field combat aircraft at all, requiring other NATO members to conduct air policing on their behalf on a rotational basis.