Exercise Furious Wolf runs twice a year and was first created in 2020. It is a JTAC specific exercise and this time involved exercising 38 JATCs from ten different nations currently serving with NATO in the Baltic region. The objective of the exercise is to enable the participants to train together and practice integrating aircraft with land components.
This chance to share tactics and experiences with other nations is extremely beneficial providing us the chance to maintain currency for ongoing Operations.
For this exercise, the British TACP created a battle lane on Estonia's South Tapa training area. Each team of JTACs was then embedded with a UK infantry section in a Warrior Armoured Fighting Vehicle from B Company, 1st Battalion, The Mercian Regiment, supported by a Challenger tank from the Royal Tank Regiment to carry out a battle run.
The scenario tested the JTACs ability to process information quickly to enable Close Air Support to be directed from the ground and attack the simulated enemy while still ensuring the safety of friendly forces near the enemy targets.
"Exercise Furious Wolf is an important opportunity to integrate training with all JTACs here in the Baltics," said Flight Lieutenant John Ennals, RAF Regiment, 3rd Royal Horse Artillery TACP. "This chance to share tactics and experiences with other nations is extremely beneficial providing us the chance to maintain currency for ongoing Operations."
During the exercise, the 3rd Royal Horse Artillery who defended their 105 light guns played the 'enemy' forces. Stormer vehicles from 12 Regiment Royal Artillery provide a surface to air threat that delivers an extra dynamic to test the JTACs and French tanks from the 12th Cuirassiers Squadron that forms part of the British-led Armoured Battlegroup.
The Estonian Air force provided the aircraft for the exercise and aircraft from the Spanish and Italian NATO Baltic Air Policing detachments.
After the battle runs during the exercise, the JTACs also visited the Italian Air Force pilots who are currently conducting the Estonian element of the NATO Baltic Air Policing mission from Amari Airbase. At this meeting, the JTACs were able to discuss capabilities and tactics with the pilots to ensure Close Air Support is requested most efficiently.
"There have also been capability briefs around Tapa camp from all ground units for the visiting JTACs, so although many moving parts it has been a fantastic opportunity for all nations to share experiences as one," said Sergeant Dawson, the RAF Regiment second in command of the British TACP
"The Exercise was a huge success and a vast amount of training was completed during the weeklong exercise. It also offered the opportunity to build relations and contacts between the JTAC community which is vital for this ongoing multinational integration here," added Dawson.