Emergency services at Iceland’s Keflavik International Airport were put on highest alert yesterday evening as a US Air Force Hercules aircraft was forced to make an emergency landing. Read the full story

With the likelihood of ice-free seas around the Arctic fast becoming a reality, the Danish Defence Commission is calling for greater Nordic military presence in Greenland. Any military action taken by Denmark will affect Greenland because defence is not one of the areas Greenland will assume responsibility for in June 2009 when it makes the transition to Self Rule. Read the full story

The Spanish military has announced that it will not be patrolling Icelandic airspace this summer as had been previously agreed. Read the full story

Experts predict that high temperatures in Afghanistan may be bad for the helicopters designed to transport Norwegian troops who have been wounded in the region.

According to reports in NRK, the hot season, which lasts from April until October, is likely to affect the operating range of Air Force helicopters in Afghanistan. Colonel Inge Kampenes, a spokesperson for the Air Force in the region confirmed that the heat could limit the helicopter to a range of just 100 to 150 kilometres.

The limited range poses a particular problem to the medical helicopter that has to transport wounded soldiers 225 kilometres to the nearest hospital in Mazar-e-Sharif. During the hot season, the helicopter will be forced to transport wounded soldiers first to camp Maimana, where there is a surgical team on hand.

According to a spokesperson for the defence department, a German helicopter unit is on call in the region and can help transport wounded Norwegian troops.

The NRK also reports that troops in Afghanistan are lacking important military equipment. The problem is not a lack of funds, but rather a lack of quality products on the market.

The Norwegian Defence Command is still waiting for the delivery of equipment for night-vision as well as for supplies which help thwart remote controlled bombs.

According to the Defence Command, Norwegian soldiers are not at risk without the supplies, but it does call the situation “unfortunate.”