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RAMSTEIN, Germany – After two days of aerial training drills for Allied and Partner air force assets contributing to regional stability and security, the interoperability exercise Ramstein Alloy 20-2 wrapped up in Latvia on June 30.  

Day two of the exercise offered more opportunities for the Control and Reporting Centre (CRC) at Lielvarde to practise their controllers and surveillance specialists in realistic scenarios. The CRC team was in charge of air-to-air refuelling missions of a Royal Netherlands Air Force tanker aircraft providing fuel for Polish fighter aircraft.

We executed planned missions enabling the Lielvarde CRC to demonstrate their air surveillance and control capabilities

Two Polish Air Force F-16 fighter jets flying a formation with a French Air Force Mirage 2000-5 fighter before practicing aerial combat training drills on the second day of exerice Ramstein Alloy 20-2. Photo courtesy French Air Force

A NATO E-3A AWACS aircraft from Geilenkirchen, Germany, flew in to control the aerial combat training activities of participating fighters. After completing its mission, the E-3A conducted a low approach at Riga International Airport demonstrating NATO’s presence and commitment in the region.

“All in all, I am pleased with the outcome of this second Ramstein Alloy here in Latvia despite the weather challenges in the area,” said Squadron Leader Craig Docker, the project officer for the exercise series at Combined Air Operations Centre (CAOC) Uedem, Germany. “We were able to execute some of the planned missions to enable the Lielvarde CRC to demonstrate their capabilities in the field of air surveillance and control,” he added.

A Polish Air Force F-16 fighter aircraft during air-to-air refuelling receiving from a Royal Netherlands Air Force KDC-10 during exercise Ramstein Alloy 20-2. Refuelling aircraft are a critical enabler for NATO Air Power. Photo courtesy Polish Air Force

The Ramstein Alloy series has become a fixed event on the training calendar in the CAOC Uedem area of responsibility specifically over the Baltic airspace demonstrating NATO collective defence and showcasing Allied-Partner peacetime management through the coordination of Air Command and Control and quick response alert forces.

A third and last Ramstein Alloy in 2020 will occur in September over Estonia and the series is scheduled to continue with three fresh events in 2021.