POGGIO RENATICO, Italy - NATO's Deployable Air Control, Recognised Air Picture Production Centre, Sensor Fusion Post (DARS) conducted exercise RAMSTEIN DUST- I/ 2017 at Poggio Renatico Air Base, Italy from 17 May to June 23, 2017.

RAMSTEIN DUST is a biannual exercise to test the DARS' deployed interconnectivity and interoperability with other NATO national air command and control units in support of air operations. The DARS, an element of the Deployable Air Command and Control Centre (DACCC), deployed safely and effectively with its equipment and personnel from its garrison location to exercise locations within Poggio Renatico and Gioia del Colle air bases.  

This year over 130 staff from 16 NATO nations were involved in the exercise.  Acting as a deployable Control and Reporting Centre, the unit utilised its mobile radar and control capabilities to conduct air surveillance and aircraft control within a complex training scenario involving both live and synthetic missions. 

The DACCC commander, Major General Dré Kraak, stated: "I am very proud of what the DARS has achieved during this exercise.  We have continued to develop NATO's cutting edge capabilities and successfully demonstrated that we can provide the Alliance with a highly reactive, deployable surveillance and control capability at very short notice."

Story based on information provided by Deployable Air Command and Control Centre Public Affairs Officer