Home  /  Newsroom  /  2021  /  Formidable Shield brings together Allies for largest test of air and missile defence

RAMSTEIN, Germany – Exercise Formidable Shield was designed to improve allied interoperability in a live-fire joint Integrated air and missile defence environment, using NATO command and control reporting structures May 15 – 3 June 21.

Allies worked together off the United Kingdom’s coast to participate in this exercise. After two weeks of training, the exercise came to a successful end. Allied Air Command served as the critical link to integrate the complex sea, land, air, and space systems from multiple nations into a common operational picture. STRIKEFORNATO, operating out of Allied Air Command’s Data Link Management Branch, enabled the connectivity amongst 15 Naval Ships enabling the first non-USA Maritime ballistic missile defence capability in the Alliance’s history.

These types of exercises demonstrate our technical and tactical capabilities to defend the Alliance

“At-Sea-Demo/Formidable Shield allows Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO (STRIKFORNATO) headquarters command and control of a multinational force to provide capable, credible deterrence against aggression. These types of exercises demonstrate our technical and tactical capabilities to defend the Alliance,” stated Royal Marines Colonel Andrew Lock, Assistant Chief of Staff Operations at STRIKFORNATO

Royal Danish Navy guided-missile frigate-FFG HDMS Iver Huitfeldt participates in exercise At-Sea-Demonstration Formidable Shield 2021 led by STRIKFORNATO, on behalf of U.S. 6th Fleet. (Photo Courtesy of Royal Danish Navy)

“Delivering integrated air and missile defence, and specifically ballistic missile defence, is one of STRIKFORNATO’s primary roles on behalf of the Alliance,” said Rear Admiral James Morley, the British Deputy Commander of STRIKFORNATO.

Crew of the Type 45 British destroyer HMS Dragon prepare 20mm ammunition shells for the starboard phalanx close range defence system off the Hebrides in preparation for a firing of the combat proven system

The exercise is designed to improve allied interoperability in a live-fire joint IAMD environment, using NATO command and control reporting structures. Serving as the critical link to integrate the complex sea, land, air, and space systems from multiple nations into a common operational picture, STRIKEFORNATO, operating out of AIRCOM’s Data Link Management Branch, enabled the connectivity amongst 15 Naval Ships enabling the first non-USA Maritime BMD capability in the Alliance’s history.

Crew of the Type 45 British destroyer HMS Dragon prepare 20mm ammunition shells for the starboard phalanx close range defence system off the Hebrides in preparation for a firing of the combat proven system