RAMSTEIN, Germany -The 53rd iteration of Baltic Operations 2024 (BALTOPS 2024), NATO’s premier maritime-focused exercise in the Baltic Region, is set to begin and will take place June 7-20.
This integrated approach to Baltic Sea security sends a strong message to potential adversaries, deters aggression, enhances stability, and assures NATO nations and their populations
Nineteen NATO Allies, more than 50 ships, more than 85 aircraft, and approximately 9,000 personnel will participate in BALTOPS 2024. With four Amphibious Task Groups and Multinational Task Units taking part, this is set to be the largest assembled coalition of amphibious forces in the Baltic Sea, as well as the largest assembled coalition of Mine Countermeasure forces in NATO.
In addition, this year will feature naval assets assigned to U.S. Indo-Pacific Command – the first time in recent history an asset tied to the Pacific theatre has participated within the U.S. Navy Europe area of operations.
Nineteen NATO Allies, more than 50 ships, more than 85 aircraft, and approximately 9,000 personnel will participate in BALTOPS 2024. Archive photo by U.S. Marine Corps - Shawn Cooper.
As in previous iterations, maritime and air forces will - among others - conduct joint personnel recovery operations strengthening collective capabilities and enhancing cohesion. Courtesy archive photo.
BALTOPS is an excellent training opportunity for Allied air forces to practice Air Maritime Integration and interoperability during a complex exercise scenario. Archive photo by U.S. Navy - Ryan Moore.
During BALTOPS, amphibious landings are a demonstration of NATO's agile capability to maintain a stable Baltic region. Archive photo by U.S. Navy - Daniel James Lanari.
As in previous iterations, maritime and air forces will train together by conducting medical evacuation, joint personnel recovery, air defence, maritime interdiction operations, anti-submarine warfare, mine countermeasures, and amphibious operations, to strengthen our collective capabilities and enhance cohesion and interoperability among NATO Allies and partners.
“BALTOPS 24 is a demonstration of NATO Allies’ agility in a dynamic security environment through practicing multi-domain operations to maintain a stable Baltic region,” said Air Marshal Johnny Stringer, Deputy Commander of NATO’s Allied Air Command at Ramstein, Germany. “This integrated approach to Baltic Sea security sends a strong message to potential adversaries, deters aggression, enhances stability, and assures NATO nations and their populations,” he added.
“Besides providing exercise control functions for participating air assets, CAOC Uedem staff are responsible for planning and executing all flight movements and build Air Tasking Orders (ATOs) for the exercise,” said Major Tapio Yli-Nisula, Finnish Air Force and BALTOPS point of contact at the CAOC. “The consolidated ATOs reflecting all fixed flights during BALTOPS are then approved by the Joint Force Air Component established at Allied Air Command in Ramstein,” he added underscoring the excellent training opportunity BALTOPS offers to Allied air forces to practice Air Maritime Integration and interoperability during a complex exercise scenario.
NATO Allies routinely work together in exercises like BALTOPS 24, enhancing their necessary agility in operating as a cohesive team to ensure appropriate collective posture of deterrence and defence in a dynamic security environment. The goal is to prove the maritime and joint partnerships of the NATO Alliance, now operating in its seventh decade, which remain as robust and relevant as ever.
As an exercise, BALTOPS is continually adapting to the dynamic current and future security environment and demonstrates NATO's steadfast commitment to regional peace and security.