Iceland: Polish Navy Goes Red Storm Rising

The Northern Viking exercise is held annually in Iceland. Initially, the exercise took place every two years, but since 2006, the frequency has increased. The objective here is to test the capabilities of Iceland and its NATO allies to operate in the challenging conditions of the North Atlantic. The exercise scenarios include various operations, such as anti-submarine warfare, cooperation with Coast Guard forces, and enhancing awareness of maritime operations and air defence domain.

In previous editions of Northern Viking, such as in 2022, many NATO countries were involved, focusing on maritime and air operations as well as rescue exercises. The main goal was to increase combat readiness and operational effectiveness in multinational operations.

The main armament of the Naval Missile Unit comes in the form of a set of NSM (Naval Strike Missile) launchers, along with an advanced command system. The range of the missiles is estimated to be around 200 km. In 2023, equipment was purchased for two additional Missile Units, featuring new-generation missiles with enhanced land target capabilities and expanded command capabilities.

The deployment of elements of the Naval Missile Unit to Iceland also carries symbolic significance. Not only does it strengthen the defensive potential of the island, which is a key NATO logistics hub, but it also echoes the scenario depicted in Tom Clancy’s well-known and respected book „Red Storm Rising”, which, during the Cold War, described a Soviet attack on Iceland. Thus, one could argue that the Polish Navy is becoming a part of the NATO system designed to stop a modern-day „Red Storm”.

Written with: Jakub Palowski