Home  /  Newsroom  /  2022  /  Commander NATO Land Command reviews Air-Land integration progress

Ramstein, Germany NATO's Allied Land Command (LANDCOM) commander, Lieutenant General Roger L. Cloutier Jr., discussed the importance of Air-Land Integration (ALI) with commanders at Allied Air Command (AIRCOM) on Apr, 27. 

During his visit, Lieutenant General Cloutier underlined the vital ties between the air and land domains. AIRCOM and LANDCOM have achieved marked progress in ALI, including having a permanent Army detachment based in AIRCOM. 

Relentlessly practicing how we must operate jointly against a peer adversary, such as Russia, will provide NATO with exceptional preparedness for our defensive posture along our Eastern Flank.

"Working alongside colleagues at Allied Air Command and strengthening existing relationships, is absolutely crucial for the Alliance's multi-domain deterrence and defence, of which Air-Land Integration is a key aspect," said Colonel Jon Campbell, Chief of the Battlefield Coordination Detachment, Allied Land Command. "Relentlessly practicing how we must operate jointly against a peer adversary, such as Russia, will provide NATO with exceptional preparedness for our defensive posture along our Eastern Flank."

 Lieutenant General Roger L. Cloutier Jr getting briefed  by Wing Commander Pete Thorbjornsen from the Combat Plans Division. Photo by: Arnaud Chamberlin

The 14 people strong Battlefield Coordination Detachment (BCD), includes staff from the 19th United States Army Europe BCD. The team conducts immediate land liaison functions within AIRCOM HQ and assists joint effect planning. This permanent liaison is a step forward in improving interoperability and strengthening NATO's collective ability to deter and defend against any attack in all domains. 

The BCD support for ALI is open for component operations via the Joint Force Training Centre's for other commands to step in at any time.