RAMSTEIN, Germany – The Hellenic and the Turkish Air Forces are joining the US and the Italian Air Forces to support live-flying operations during NATO’s exercise Poggio Dart from Nov 7-11, 2022.
[The exercise demonstrates] the seamless and professional ability of NATO air forces to deploy, prepare, execute and control complex missions in support of Deterrence and Defence
Based at Aviano, US and Turkish Air Force F-16s as well as Hellenic Air force F-4Fs will be flying alongside Italian F-35, Eurofighter, Tornado fighters and support aircraft from their respective home bases across Italy and participate in the tactical level exercise. During the live-flying exercise, a total force of 30 multi-role aircraft will conduct Combined Air Operations above Italy. These missions are planned, coordinated and controlled by NATO’s Deployable Air Command and Control Centre at Poggio Renatico showcasing Allied cooperation, commitment and capabilities.
LU.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons assigned to the 510th Fighter Squadron taxi after landing during NATO exercise Poggio Dart at Aviano Air Base, Italy, Nov. 7, 2022. Poggio Dart is a NATO led exercise focused on strengthening interoperability between allies from the Turkish, Hellenic, Italian and United States Air Forces. U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Nathan Lipscomb.
A Turkish Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon takes off from its home base in Türkiye, Nov 4, 2022, to deploy to Aviano Air Base, Italy, to participate in NATO exercise Poggio Dart. The exercise optimized the integration between participants and strengthens interoperability of allied air forces during joint operations. Photo courtesy Turkish Air Force
An F-4F Phantom from the Hellenic Air Force lands during NATO exercise Poggio Dart at Aviano Air Base, Italy, Nov 7, 2022. Poggio Dart tested the Deployable Air Command Control Center’s tactical control capabilities for multinational operations that include fighter aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles, surface based air defences and tanker aircraft. U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Nathan Lipscomb.
Italy participated in NATO exercise Poggio Dart with 4th and 5th generation fighter aircraft as well as unmanned systems and support aircraft presenting a mix of challenging scenarios for the DACCC control staff. Archive photo courtesy Italian Air Force.
“The fact that we have four Allies supporting this live-flying part of Poggio Dart demonstrates three things,” said Brigadier General Omer Nafiz Gülmezoglu, Deputy Chief of Staff Plans at Allied Air Command. “It shows the transatlantic bond in NATO at work, as the US Air Base at Aviano host Allied fighters and the 31st Fighter Wing’s F-16 participate in the drills. The seamless and professional ability of NATO air forces to deploy, prepare, execute and control complex missions in support of Deterrence and Defence and the excellent cooperation of our Allies Greece, Italy, Türkiye and the United States,” he added.
From the operational perspective, [...] all these air assets are coming together, ready to operate under NATO command and control ensured by the DACCC
“From the operational and the force development, integration and requirements (FDIR) perspective, I welcome that all these air assets are coming together, ready to operate under NATO command and control ensured by the DACCC,” Colonel Andreas Archontakis, Head of the FDIR Division at Allied Air Command. “The close cooperation at the tactical level is a confirmation that our conceptual efforts play out in practice,” he added.
Exercise Poggio Dart runs from Nov 2 to 11, 2022 and includes a computer assisted part that exercises the DACCC elements’ functional capabilities and combat readiness for an employment in NATO’s Very High Readiness Joint Task Force. From Nov 7-11, a live-flying exercise will involve DACCC controllers seeing through the employment of Allied air assets from the operational planning phase to the tactical execution.
The long-scheduled exercise is part of the DACCC’s training and exercise cycle and an opportunity for Allied pilots, ground crews and controllers to simulate and practice common tactics, techniques and procedures for NATO Deterrence and Defence missions.