RAMSTEIN, Germany – In the last week of October, Allied aircraft from several Allies conducted combined joint training with air, naval and ground-based assets in the airspace over Romania demonstrating NATO capabilities in support of NATO Deterrence and Defence.
Multi-domain operations such as the ones we conducted this week, demonstrate and communicate the Alliance’s capability to conduct precision strikes anytime, anywhere
NATO - under the command and control of the Spanish Joint Force Air Component - deployed Italian Navy F-35B and U.S. Navy F-18 fighter aircraft from two Carrier Strike Groups – the Italian CAVOUR deployed in the Mediterranean the U.S. HARRY S. Truman in the North Sea to conduct effective training with Spanish EF-18 jets deployed in Romania for enhanced Air Policing; the Hellenic Air Force participated with their Rafale aircraft. On the ground, the French Air Force MAMBA air defence system and French Army MISTRAL very short range air defence systems added to the complexity of the training scenarios.
An Italian F-35B takes off from the Italian Navy Cavour aircraft; the carrier strike group cruising in the Mediterranean Sea, is the basis for launching training missions during Neptune Strike 24-2. Photo courtesy Italian Navy.
Italian F-35Bs and Spanish EF-18sflying in Neptune Strike training drills over Romania. Refueling from a French A330 MRTT sustains longer flying time enabling valuable combined training. Photo courtesy Spanish Air Force.
A U.S. Navy F-18 fighter jet taking off from the U.S. Harry S. Truman also joined the training missions over Romania contributing to practicing delivery of operational effects for NATO deterrence and defence. Photo courtesy U.S. Navy.
A French Air Fore MAMBA ground-based air defence system - depicted at is deployed site in Capu Midia, Romania, participated during the events creating a realistic complex threat scenario. Archive photo courtesy French EMACOM.
A French Air and Space Force and U.S. Air Force refueling aircraft enabled the projection and on-station-time of the fighters during the training which was tactically overseen by the Control and Reporting Centre CRYSTAL in Bucharest.
“NATO and the Allies are exploiting every opportunity to train together and to hone our air and ground crews’ skills ,” said General Julio Sampayo Nieto, Commander of the Spanish JFAC “Multi-domain operations such as the ones we conducted this week, demonstrate and communicate the Alliance’s capability to conduct precision strikes anytime, anywhere,” he added.
The combat training in Romania was conducted within the framework of NATO’s enhanced Vigilance Activity Neptune Strike – which is led by Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO (STRIKFORNATO) – and Joint Force Command Naples-led operations in support of deterrence and defence in Southeast Europe.
Neptune Strike 24.2 is the eighth stage of Project Neptune, a multi-year effort focused on harmonizing work to transfer command and control of U.S. naval and amphibious forces to STRIKFORNATO in order to provide assurance, deterrence and collective defence for the Alliance. It showcases the next step of NATO’s ability to integrate high-end strike capabilities to support the defence of the Alliance. The current edition runs from October 24 to 31 and is conducted from the North, Baltic and Mediterranean Seas.
The combined joint activities of multiple Allied fighter and tanker aircraft, ground based air defence and regional surveillance and control centres illustrated the Allies approach to force projection and multi-domain integration. NATO exploited the presence of air and naval assets including from the U.S. to enable meaningful training and preparation of its air and ground crews as well as controllers for deterrence and defence activities. The drills fit in the objective of enhanced Vigilance Activities to demonstrate that NATO is transparent in what it does and what its forces prepare for; NATO’s posture remains focused on readiness and is non-provocative.