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The European nation of Iceland hassome unique traits that few people real-rze. It is one of about five countries inthe world with a l00Vo literacy rate.Coincidentally, nearly one shop in five isa bookstore in the capital city ofReykjavik, home to one-third of thecountry's population of about 260,000.The island, very close to the size ofVirginia, is volcanic and still geother-mally active with hot springs harnessedto heat homes and enable greenhouses togrow bananas. One furiously rushingspring, named Geysir, became the originof the word "geyser'i Belying her name,Iceland is proportionately warmer andgreener than Greenland, thanks toAtlantic currents that never allow herharbors to freeze. Long winter tempera-tures average around 32 degreesFahrenheit. On the very coldest days ofDecember, she will typically be twentydegrees warmer than central Germany.Yet, an eighth of the island is covered by

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Naual Air StationKeflauik, lceland

glaciers, including Europe's largest.Only one-fourth of the land is workable,but mild summers of temperaturesapproaching the mid-fifties and longdaylight hours, allow a growing seasonfor potatoes, hay and grasslands for a

large population of sheep. The minglingof warm and cold ocean currents keepthe waters abounding with fish, mainstayof the Republic's economy.

Perhaps Iceland's greatest feature isher strategic location. During the coldwar, this base became the front line forASW in the Atlantic, with the drone ofthe Orion engine heard around the clock,into the endless dark of winter, throughthe perpetual daylight of summer. For allthe years of the transiting submarine, theaircraft hunted the underwater highwaysthat passed alongside Iceland. It has beensaid that Iceland was the essential keywhich brought about the demise ofSoviet expansionism.

The Naval Air Station at Keflavikhas long been a haven for maritimepatrol aviation. P-3 squadrons fromaround the world have used it as a

deployment or detachment site; the U.S.and Netherlands are ever present. Fromthis base surface shipping may bemonitored. Joint NATO exercisesbecome logistically convenient andoperationally preeminent. Anti-submarine Warfare training may bepracticed like no other place in theworld. It is the real world ASW experi-ence available in KEF, that is critical inkeeping the ASW skills of P-3 crews atpeak efficiency.

Keflavik operations also includetraining opportunities for shallow waterantisubmarine warfare. Because of theclose proximity to the coastal waters ofNorway, deployed crews can partici-pate in patrols of Norway's coastlinefor real world experience in MPA inthe Nordic fiords.

With a perceived future threatposed from the proliferation of ex-Soviet diesel submarines being sold tounfriendly third world powers, the Navyhas focused on shallow water ASWskills by initiating the ASW TrainingImprovement Program (AWTIP). Theprogram stresses methods of detectingboth diesel and nuclear submarines, con-sidering their characteristics andoperating parameters in the "brown"water environment. The challenge istwo-fold - to differentiate the contactsfrom the enormous amount of ambientsurface clutter and to deal with soundpropagation and bottom scatter noisedistortions common to the shallow waterenvironment. The AWTIP training pro-gram is reminiscent of the intensiveinitiative that took place for trainingagainst the first nuclear submarines.

ICELAND'S BACKGROUNDThe earliest settlers to arrive on the

island of Iceland were Norsemen fleeingan autocratic king. The year was 874,during the heart of the Viking explo-rations and raids. It was about a hundredyears before the birth of Leif Eriksson,who landed somewhere in the Americasclose to the year 1000. Today's descen-dants are predominantly of Nordic andCeltic background. Their language,Icelandic, is much like Old Norse, keptpure through the centuries by isolation-ism. The quest for a fair governmentsurvived as well, with an assembly, their"Althing", the world's oldest survivingparliament.

Iceland grew into an independentrepublic, officially between the years of930 and 1262, when she joined Norway.The Danish ruled from 1381 to 1918,maintaining a close relationship afterthat, then severed all ties by the early'40s, giving Iceland full independence.

During World War II, Iceland wasthe key to bridging the gap betweenNorth America and Europe. UnitedStates forces constructed the air field atKeflavik as a re-fueling point for aircraftdeliveries and cargo flights to the war inEurope. After the war, Keflavft contin-ued to support flights to the occupationforces in Europe. The U.S. maintainedand operated the airfield as the winds ofthe Cold War began to blow in from theeast. The Icelandic government quicklyrealized the strategic potential of theirisland, but with such a small populaceand no military, she had no prospect for

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The Royal Netherlands Navy has a P-3 permanently attached to NAS Keflavik.

Yankee class submarine enroute to the open ocean, unsuccessfully attempts to squeeze by Iceland.

Located just south of the Arctic circle, Iceland has easy access to strategic polar locations.

As a part of the drawdown, NASKeflavik recently assumed responsibilityof all MPA forces operational fromLajes in the Azores.

KEF based Orions are nowdetached to the Azores for operationalmissions and for support of transitingcarrier battle groups.

NATO IN ICELANDIceland is open to those member

nations wishing to conduct MPA opera-tions from her shores. Often theseoperations are coordinated into multi-national training exercises to supportthe primary NAT0 mission of maintain-ing a presence in the Arctic.

Several Keflavik Tactical Exchanges(KEFTACEX) are flown by NATOpartners, Canada, France, Germany,Norway, the Netherlands, Italy, TheUnited Kingdom and the United States.Both Germany and Norway often pro-vide diesel submarines to act as"hostiles" during the exercises. Thesubs are the same types that are beingpurchased by third world countries,which adds value to the training oppor-tunities for P-3 crews.

As NATO grows both in member-ship and mission and as theorganizatron becomes more influentialas a force, the practice of workingtogether outside the realm of crisis,increases in importance. Iceland pro-vides the neutral ground in a strategiclocation which is setup for NATO sup-port. She also brings to life NorthAtlantic operations, and presence, fornations with Maritime Patrol Aviationcapability.

a solid defense. So in 1949,Icelandbecame one of the founding nations ofNATO. This move provided Iceland withprotection and provided NATO memberswith a strategic base. In 1951 Icelandsigned a defense agreement with theUnited States in concordance with theearlier NATO accord. The agreementprovides the NATO air base facility to beoperated by the U.S., in exchange forU.S. military defense of the island nation.

NAVAL AVIATION IN ICELANDNaval Air Station Keflavfk is

responsible for all airfield operationsand all support services, facilities, hous-ing and so forth. It is under the authorityof the U.S. Navy via the IcelandDefence Force. The Iceland DefenceForce (now commanded by RADM

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Stanley W. Bryant) is a sub-unifiedcommand composed of approximately2,700 members of all four services. TheIDF falls under the jurisdiction of theU.S. Atlantic Command (USACOM).

The U.S. Navy Rear Admiral com-manding the Iceland Defence Force isresponsible for three other commands.First, he is the commander of Fleet AirKeflavik, the senior Navy command atNAS Keflavik. Second, he is the com-mander of Iceland Sector AntisubmarineWarfare Group (CTG 84.1), which exer-cises operational control of all maritimepatrol missions and those MPA forcesfrom NATO who are at Keflavft. Third,he is Island Commander Iceland, a

NATO command that falls under theCommander-in-Chief, Eastern Atlantic(CINCEASTLANT).

At times working together as a jointforce can get interesting. The NATOforces have participated with the sub-unified command of the IDF whichincludes the U.S. Air Force. A typicalcircumstance is a mine warfare exercise,where the Air force may use F-15s toprotect P-3s on a mining mission from"hostile" F-16s provided by Norway.

THE DUTCH IN ICBLANDOne common sight on the PATRON

Keflavik flight line is the distinc-tively painted Orions of the RoyalNetherlands Navy. A single aircraftdetachment is the result of a militaryagreement made at the request of theIcelandic government to have the planepermanently deployed. The aircraft isproperly under the command of NATO,but it operates as part of the Icelandsector ASW group in unison with theU.S. Navy.

The Dutch P-3s perform KEF OPSalongside the American Orions andparticipate in NATO interoperabilityoperations such as mine warfare exer-cises. The training benefits the Dutchcrews immensely. In addition to train-ing, the aircraft is positioned to providevital support to their air force. One par-ticular tasking includes assuming theSAR guard for transiting RoyalNetherlands Air Force F-16s. Similar tothe Canadian Aurora's "Duck Butt"mission, the Dutch "Goose Bay Ferry"flights position a P-3 in an orbit overthe southern tip of Greenland. The crewperforms communication relays andmaintains a SAR-ready status.

POTENTIAL IN ICELANDToday, Iceland still maintains her

importance as a strategic location forASW operations, in tracking the newRussian advanced-technology sub-marines that are currently beingmanufactured. Although the tempo ofASW operations out of Keflavik hasdecreased, the threat potential of theseplatforms, has not.

Keeping up with what is going onunderwater is the "ounce of prevention"that "can save a pound of cure".

In the world of real estate, it is saidthat location is everything. In the worldof reality, where crisis follows crisis,location is also everything. Iceland con-tinues to prove her value as time goes onand the pace of activity, based out ofNAS Keflavik, is ever increasing. >t

-Article by David Reade and Bob Harper

Keflavik's base airplane, a UP-3A (BUNO 150495), is operated by the Organizational MaintenanceDepartment. It is used for logistical support and has been configured with 45 airline seats, aconference table and state-of-the-art communications and navigation avionics, including weatheravoidance radar. The Nordic mythological maiden, Valkyrja, guardian of souls, adorns the tail.Below, a view of the midnight sun.

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Naval Air Wa are Cenlr P-36 131589, 15049 snd Project Maglet Orion 158227 undergoing NAV/COMM upgrade at Chrrsler Technologies.

AN/AN-140 VCR/IFS Glideslope sets, marker beaconreceiver sets and an Attitude Director system with ID l329lAindicators for consolidation of navigation displays.

The program also provides for the incorporation of anAN/APN-234 color weather radar. This provides the pilot witha weather avoidance capability, establishing the direction of a

clear flight path through cloud formations, thunderstorms,high rainfall intensities and even icing conditions.

The upgrade program will be performed by ChryslerTechnologies Airborne Systems, Inc. in Waco, Texas. Since1990 Chrysler has modified over 130 P-3 NBIC models fromsimple GFE installations, through design manufacture of spe-cific AFC mod kits and complex structural changes.In 1992they converted two P-3Bs to EP-3J C3CM Navy fleet trainingaircraft. Chrysler has also recently performed the first non-NADEP conducted standard level depot maintenance reworkof a civilr.anlgovernment P-3. The SDLM was done onNASA's P-3 "EFIS" remote sensing atcraft earlier this year.

Under the NAWC upgrade program, Chrysler will man-age and provide the design engineering, manufacture theMOD kits and install the component systems into the aircraft.All avionics and equipment are to be off-the-she1f, non-devel-opmental. Continued care of the suite, IFS services, will beprovided by Chrysler as well.

As each plane completes the upgrade it will receive a newdesignation. NAWC headquarters has received approval toredesignate all the RDT&E Orions under a one-type designa-tion. This includes RP-3A, RP-3D, EP-3A, EP-3B and severaltestbed UP-3A variants. The new designation will be NP-3D.This move is an effort to reduce the number of Navy aucraftdesignations and also to lump the miscellaneous configura-tions of RDT&E Orions under one model manager. >t

NAWG P-3 Upgrude ProgramAnd Redesign?tion 0biectiue

David Reade

I n an effort to standardrze the configurations of Naval air

I Warfare Center P-3s, NAWC has initiated an upgrade pro-I ject to address communications, navigation, and safety offlight for its variant Orions.

Candidate aircraft are those directly involved in research,development, test and evaluation, and are operated in thefollowing areas:

- Naval Air Warfare Center, Aircraft Division,Warminster, PA

- Naval Air Warfare Center, Aircraft Division, PatuxentRiver, MD

- Naval Research Laboratory, flight support detachment,Patuxent River

- Naval Air Warfare Center, Weapons Division, PointMugu, CA

With the downsiztng of the military industrial complex,the RDT&E testbed and range support Orions are in greatdemand; they have seen a marked increase rn ttrhzation inrecent years. As a result, the aircraft are in need of moderniza-tion to improve and extend their usefulness as valuable andunique test platforms.

Most of the atcraft are P-3A and P-3B variants and have1960 and '70 navrgation and communication components. Theupgrade will improve performance and reliability by replacingsystems with units compatible to the fleet and requirementsstipulated by the FAA. New NAV/COM components includedual AN/ARC-159 UHF radios, SATellite COMMunications,additional or dual LN-72 Inertial Navigation systems andGAPS units.

Another part of the upgrade addresses safety of flight con-cerns with an effort to standardrze cockpit avionicsconfigurations. Included will be the installation of dual

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NP.3D ORIONS OF THB, NAVAL AIRWARHARE, CE,NTE,RNP-3D is the new designation for the varlous

P-3s belonging to the Naval Air Warfare Center.

Where each of the uniquely configured aircraft

have been so drastically modified from their

original design and are beyond any practical

economic limits to restore them to their former

use, and in consideration of the upgrade and

previous engine change, the NP-3D designation

more aptly defines the condition of the special

test Orions.

A11 significantly configured NAWC aircraft willreceive some form of redesignation. Over a

dozen other types will include the NF-14D,

NF/A-l8A, NA-6C, NSH-60B and so on.

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Mike Grove RP-3A number 150525 (left) on Moffett Field taxiway. "Billboard" P-3s (right) decorate the ramp at Pt. Mugu Test Center. craig Kaston

Below an EP-3B Electronic Warfare Simulator/Evaluator of the NRL.

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NEWS LOG

NAWG P-3 0rionSurueys Floodsn 12 July 1994, as President Clintoninspected the floods of Southwest Georgiacaused by the remnants of Tropical Storm

Alberto, a NAWC P-3 from NAS Point Mugu,California surveyed the swollen Flint River sub-merging the town of Bainbridge.

A few days after this photo was taken, the Flint River finally crested at 37 feet,13feet above flood stage. Over 300 homes were submerged with a total damage assess-

ment exceedirg $+O million dollars. The death toll reached 31.

The Naval Air Warfare Center P-3 was equipped with AMPS, theAirborne Multisensor Pod System developed by the Department ofEnergy in association with the National Laboratories and INFOTEC,Development Company.

The survey consisted of crisscrossing the Flint River and the townof Bainbridge, collecting and recording remote sensing imagery for use

by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The AMPSpods collected multispectral infrared, video and Synthetic ApertureRadar imagery of the flooded area prior to the crest of the river.Subsequent flights will provide more imagery to help in assessinginsurance claims. Similar flights were conducted for FEMA on the1993 mid-west floods by a NAWC Warminster P-3 modified with aSAR radar. *

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The Airborne Multisensor Pod System attached to the P-3.

Australian P-3G SetFor Refurhishment

Three Australian companies and a U.S. company wereidentified for an upgrade on Royal Australian Air Force P-3s.The refurbishment will consist of replacing older, heavieravionics and equipment which has become less capable andmore difficult to support. Overall, the mission effectivenesswill improve substantially, the weight will be reduced some-where around 3000 pounds and the fatigue life will beincreased. The project, explained in detail in the FalI '93issue of the Airborne Log, inc1udes a new radar, navigationand communication systems and a new acoustic processorand data management system.

The primary contractor of the project will be E-Systemsof Dallas, TX. Three Australian companies will also partici-pate. E-Systems will handle the development, engineering,arcraft prototyping and testing phases. ASTA, AeroSpaceTechnologies of Australia, will perform modification of air-craft2 through ll at its Avalon, Australia facility. They willalso be responsible for Integrated Logistics Support manage-ment. AWADI, AWA Defense Industries of Australia willlead development and initiation of the integration and testand training facility in Australia and develop the OperationalMission Simulator software. Honeywell of Australia willperform the navigation system upgrades, cockpit modifica-tion and weapon systems maintenance training.

Eighteen aircraft will be modified in about 5 years time.Once completed, the aircraft will be redesignated "AP-3C"Orions. *

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