The Czech air force begins surveillance mission over Iceland

Five Czech Gripen fighter jets are to fly to Iceland on Friday for an air patrol mission over Icelandic territory. Thursday’s flight was cancelled due to bad weather over the Atlantic. Over the next nine weeks the Czech air force will take its turn protecting Iceland's airspace, the only NATO member state without an air force of its own. The main part of the 75 member Czech contingent is already there. The cost of the operation, estimated at 33 million crowns, is being covered by Iceland.