RAMSTEIN, Germany – NATO’s highest-ranking military representatives from the Military Committee visited Allied Air Command on October 26 and 27, 2023 for discussions and updates on NATO Air Power and AIRCOM’s plans to further improve and strengthen our joint commitment towards the Deterrence and Defence of the Euro Atlantic Area (DDA).
In this new era of collective defence, it is essential that we address the many air and space challenges facing NATO ... it is incumbent upon us, as leaders of our free Nations and critical players of our collective defence, to ensure that our capabilities remain robust and unparalleled
General James Hecker, Commander Allied Air Command, welcomed the group of high-level military officials led by the Chair of the NATO Military Committee, Admiral Rob Bauer of the Royal Netherlands Navy.
“It is a great pleasure to welcome you and your colleagues who represent our NATO Nations’ armed forces,” said General Hecker. “Our staff at Allied Air Command has just successfully completed exercise Steadfast Jupiter and proved their supreme skills in the field of planning, coordinating, tasking and executing Air Command and Control of Allied Air Operations in support of a Joint Force in simulated major combat operation,” he added.
Admiral Rob Bauer, Chair of NATO's Military Committee (left) and General James Hecker, Commander of Allied Air Command (right) during a break of the visit. Both senior officers and their staffs reflected on the importance of Air and Space Power for the Alliance.
Photo by Arnaud Chamberlin.
Admiral Rob Bauer, Chair of NATO's Military Committee (centre) and Lieutenant General Janusz Adamczak, Director General of the NATO International Military Staff (right) in discussions with Air Marshal Johnny Stringer, Deputy Commander of Allied Air Command (left).
Photo by Arnaud Chamberlin
General Hecker led the visitors during their tour of Allied Air Command and presented mission updates on how his team implements the Alliance’s subordinate strategic plans in the Air and Space domains, specifically NATO’s Integrated Air and Missile Defence and current topics such as intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance and contributing to the Allies’ support for Ukraine.
Thanking the General for his invite and AIRCOM staff for their relentless work to ensure the Alliance grows ever more agile in times of crisis and/or conflict, Admiral Bauer reflected on the importance of Air and Space Power as a force multiplier and catalyst for NATO multi-domain operations – hence as a critical element of the Alliance’s overall deterrence and defence – now and going forward.
“In this new era of collective defence, it is essential that we address the many air and space challenges facing NATO”, he stated, adding that “as the world around us continues to evolve rapidly, presenting us with new and complex threats that demand our utmost attention, and as our adversaries seek to undermine the peace and stability we strive to uphold, it is incumbent upon us, as leaders of our free Nations and critical players of our collective defence, to ensure that our capabilities remain robust and unparalleled.”
“Besides our leading role in coordinating the Allies’ Space activities and maintaining Space awareness for the Alliance, we also enhance our traditional air capabilities in support of multi-domain operations,” stated General Hecker. “With our collective AIRCOM effort we ensure the security and strength of the Alliance – working important subjects like counter-anti-access and area denial, continuing to lead NATO Integrated Air and Missile Defence, trailblazing Agile Combat Employment and enhancing cross-border operational procedures of our air forces,” he added.
An essential link between the political decision-making process and the military structure of NATO, the NATO Military Committee is the senior military authority in the Alliance and the oldest permanent body in NATO after the North Atlantic Council, both having been formed only months after the Alliance came into being. It is the primary source of consensus-based military advice to the North Atlantic Council and the Nuclear Planning Group, and gives direction to the two Strategic Commanders – Supreme Allied Commander Europe and Supreme Allied Commander Transformation.