ŠIAULIAI, Lithuania – The fourth edition of the NATO air exercise series RAMSTEIN ALLOY is going to take place in Baltic airspace, mainly over Lithuania on April 25 and 26. Fighter jets from both Baltic Air Policing detachments, the Netherlands and Germany, from Poland and from Norway as well as a transport aircraft from Lithuania, a US tanker and NATO AWACS aircraft will be involved in this live flying training event.

 

RAMSTEIN ALLOY 4 serves to exercise Baltic Air Policing alert aircraft as well as to enhance relations and interoperability amongst allied Air Forces. Specifically, participants will practice air intercepts, air to air refueling, search and rescue operations as well as practice diversions, the approaches to different Baltic airfields. Furthermore, involved aircraft will also train intercept procedures for COMLOSS situations, a scenario in which a civilian aircraft loses contact with ground controls and requires midair identification by Air Policing alert jets. Overseen by NATO’s Combined Air Operations Centre at Uedem, Germany,mission control will be provided by the AWACS and the Karmelava Control and Reporting Centre.

 

On April 25, the first day of the exercise, media will be provided the opportunity to witness the COMLOSS scenario up close from onboard the Lithuanian C-27 transport aircraft. During a COMLOSS scenario, the C-27 will be intercepted by the Dutch F-16 fighters. After landing, the F-16 and the AWACS will be on static display on the ground to inform journalists about their capabilities.

 

The RAMSTEIN ALLOY exercise series began in 2016 as a sequel of the successful BALTIC REGION TRAINING EVENT (BRTE). It is held three times a year in each of the three Baltic States. As Baltic Air Policing detachments rotate on a four months term, the exercise series provides the opportunity to exercise with various Allies in each edition.