RAMSTEIN, Germany – NATO members hosted by the U.S. Air Forces in Europe (USAFE) took part in the virtual Exercise Spartan Warrior, a multinational exercise held at the USAFE Warfare Center in Germany and various facilities across Europe, September 27-30.
The warfare simulation based on the European theatre allowed networked Allies and Partners to join the fight from across the world. The scenarios tested the players' abilities in countering threats while exercising tactics, techniques and procedures for real-world events.
Over the same period the Warfare Center's Joint Terminal Attack Control (JTAC) training unit facilitated a live-fly contested Close Air Support (CAS) exercise, Spartan Bigfoot 21, conducted at the Baumholder Military Training Area, Germany. Integrated into the overall scenario, aircrews and JTACs had the opportunity to hone their skills by conducting CAS scenarios in an electronic warfare contested environment with pop-up mobile surface-to-air threats.
A blended mix of synthetic and live-fly training as seen in these exercises is a vital tool in providing consistent and relevant training across the Alliance
"A blended mix of synthetic and live-fly training as seen in these exercises is a vital tool in providing consistent and relevant training across the Alliance," said Air Commodore Adrian Hill, Deputy Chief of Staff Support, Allied Air Command. "The Spartan Warrior exercise gives crews the opportunity to practice their procedures virtually before taking that experience into a real-life contested environment as provided on Spartan Bigfoot."
The delegation from Allied Air Command are briefed on the capability of the simulators operated from the Warfare Center. Photo by Arnaud Chamberlin.
JTACs prepare to call for live close air support during Exercise Spartan Bigfoot, held at Baumholder training area, Germany. Photo by Arnaud Chamberlin
The simulator at the Warfare Center allows JTACs to practice techniques and procedures with aircrew connected virtually. Photo by Arnaud Chamberlin.
The Warfare Center linked crews, participating with a diverse range of fighters, unmanned aircraft and Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) assets based in Italy, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, the UK, and the US and NATO AWACS aircraft with local participants such as Latvian and Lithuanian JTACs and other US Army and US Air Force assets.
Spartan Warrior exercises are conducted semi-annually and based on the European environment with scenarios that can encompass all phases of major combat operations. All levels of Command and Control as well as ISR processes are included virtually or synthetically developed for a Large Force Employment and Composite Air Operations, respectively.