“NATO’s Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) and the emerging NATO Alliance Ground Surveillance (NAGS) capability can combine with Maritime Patrol Aircraft and ships sailing in international waters during exercises and operations to hone our coordination and networking skills,” says Allied Air Command’s Deputy Chief of Staff Operations, US Air Force Brigadier General Andrew Hansen. 

Training of combined Air and Maritime assets is constantly conducted to achieve an advanced level of true multi-domain capability

“Multi-domain awareness makes us more integrated and benefits how we cooperate both at the operational Command and Control level and during the tactical implementation of our plans using the aircraft and ships the Allies provide to NATO,” he added. 

“Training of combined Air and Maritime assets is constantly conducted to achieve an advanced level of true multi-domain capability and increase our readiness to respond in Defence of all NATO member states,” General Hansen said. “Airmen and sailors need to be aware of how their counterparts operate, communicate and cooperate to fully employ the available assets for the best possible support of the Alliance’s DDA mission,” he concluded. 

Allied Air Command – among others – commands the operations of NATO AWACS and NAGS, and oversees NATO’s 24/7 Air Policing mission across the European Allies, while Allied Maritime Command is the central command of all NATO maritime forces. Both Allied commands are closely coordinating opportunities for networking and interoperability of Allied air and naval forces during missions, deployments and training.