“With this team, we are shaping the future of Air and Space Power,” said General Harrigian. “This year, we are working hard at growing the NATO Space Centre, advancing theatre-wide joint training activities, and synchronizing intelligence sharing to compete with our adversaries. Looking to the future, Alliance security requires further innovative efforts, such as Agile Combat Employment, modernization of Alliance tactical datalink architecture, and working on delivering realistic live adversary air training,” General Harrigian added.
We are working hard at growing the NATO Space Centre, advancing theatre-wide joint training activities, and synchronizing intelligence sharing to compete with our adversaries
General Harrigian, was joined by almost 30 Allied and Partner Air Chiefs, Chairman of the NATO Military Committee, Air Chief Marshal Sir Stuart Peach, and senior representatives from NATO commands. Discussions were conducted with a combination of in-person and virtual attendance based on current pandemic restrictions.
NATO Air Chiefs’ Symposiums are an exceptional forum for strategic exchanges on Air and Space Power topics. Air Chief Marshal Sir Stuart Peach, delivered the keynote address to the senior leadership of Allied and Partner air forces.
“This year marks sixty years that NATO has conducted air policing missions to keep our skies safe,” Air Chief Marshal Sir Stuart Peach stressed. “We are investing in the future through the acquisition of our Allied
Ground Surveillance system, the modernisation of our fleet of Airborne Warning and Control System aircraft and the acquisition over 1 billion euros worth of satellite capacity in 2020-2034. NATO is a learning organisation that continues to adapt across all domains,” he concluded.
During the symposium, participants discussed NATO’s Space Implementation activities with emphasis to operational coordination of Allied space assets. Furthermore, discussions included multinational initiatives that provide Deterrence and Defence of the Euro-Atlantic Area including the continued progress of integrating fourth and fifth generation aircraft in exercises, operations, and continuous air policing roles from increasing Allies inventories across the European theatre.
The Air Chiefs from Finland and Sweden presented their ideas and perspectives of Agile Combat Employment laying out further cooperation with Allied and Partner air forces. The concept provides a strategically predictable force by exploiting operational unpredictability, which provides Allies the ability to generate and sustain combat power in a contested environment.
NATO is a learning organisation that continues to adapt across all domains
As ongoing collaboration of NATO National Senior Enlisted Leaders, Warrant Officer Sara Catterall, AIRCOM Command Senior Enlisted Leader (CSEL), engaged national Senior Enlisted Leaders in an exchange of ideas and challenged them to create opportunities which professionally develop our Allied personnel in NATO Air Power.