According to the recent update from the NATO Allied Air Command (AIRCOM), the NATO Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Force (NISRF) reached an important milestone on 21 May 2026 with the arrival of the RQ-4D Phoenix unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) at Ørland Air Station in Brekstad, Norway.
This marks not only the first time that the NISRF RQ-4D Phoenix UAV has operated from Norwegian territory, but also only the third occasion on which the system has flown outside the Sigonella Air Base in Sicily, Italy. Deploying the system as part of Agile Combat Employment (ACE) demonstrates the NISRF’s ability to deliver ISR capabilities flexibly from dispersed locations in support of NATO operations.
To prepare for this deployment, personnel from the NISRF Training Centre provided training to local support staff, ensuring that all procedures and capabilities were seamlessly integrated on site.
“This underscores the flexibility and readiness of the NATO Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Force,” said Brigadier General John B. Creel, Commander of the NISRF. “Operating the RQ-4D Phoenix from Norway highlights our ability to deliver ISR effects wherever required in support of our Alliance.”
“Hosting the RQ-4D Phoenix in Norway is a significant step in strengthening our cooperation with NISRF and NATO,” emphasised Colonel Ole Marius Tørrisplass, Base Commander and Chief of the 132nd Air Wing of the Norwegian Air Force, adding: “This reflects our shared commitment to collective defence and operational readiness.”
The NISRF is a unique multinational force operating five NATO-owned RQ-4D Phoenix UAVs within the Alliance. Bringing together personnel from various NATO member countries, it delivers persistent ISR capabilities, ensuring commanders have access to timely and reliable information to support their decision-making processes.
Cover photo: NATO’s unmanned drone RQ-4D Phoenix for the first time landed in Norway. (Photo by Hanne Vik Rye / Forsvaret)
Press materials of the Allied Air Command Public Affairs Office were used.
