Allied Intelligence — 2026-05-24

NATO ISR Force Conducts First RQ-4D Phoenix Drone Operations From Norway Under Agile Combat Employment

BLUFØrland's hosting of the RQ-4D marks NATO's shift from showcasing Agile Combat Employment to institutionalizing it, extending persistent ISR over the Northern Fleet's bastion with reduced reliance on Sigonella.

On May 21, the NATO Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Force conducted its first RQ-4D Phoenix remotely piloted aircraft operations from Norwegian territory, flying from Ørland's 132 Air Wing under the Agile Combat Employment concept 12. NATO confirmed this was only the third time the system has operated outside its permanent base at Italian Air Force Base Sigonella 12. Before the operation, NISRF Training Centre personnel trained 132 Air Wing support staff to integrate procedures and capabilities on site 12. NISRF Commander Brigadier General John B. Creel and 132 Air Wing Base Commander Colonel Ole Marius Tørrisplass each issued on-record statements describing the deployment as a demonstration of Alliance ISR flexibility and shared collective defence readiness 12.

Analysis
The Ørland deployment places persistent RQ-4D surveillance within range of Northern Fleet operating areas, forcing Russian planners to account for expanded ISR coverage along Kola Peninsula approaches and Norwegian Sea transit corridors. As only the third departure from Sigonella, the sortie marks a measurable advance in operationalizing ACE beyond its conceptual phase. The preceding on-site training by NISRF Training Centre staff points to deliberate capacity-building at 132 Air Wing, suggesting future deployments will require shorter lead times. The single source, an official NATO press release carrying no independent corroboration, leaves open that the sortie was primarily a strategic communications event with no active ISR tasking against Russian targets.

4 sources

First RQ-4D Phoenix Operations in Norway mark NISRF Milestone - GlobalSecurity.org
NATO ISR Force conducts First RQ-4D Phoenix operations from Norway under Agile Combat Employment - Defence Industry Europe
First RQ-4D Phoenix Operations in Norway mark NISRF Milestone - NATO Allied Command Operations
The first landing of a NATO RQ-4D Phoenix unmanned aerial vehicle in Norway - Pravda NATO