RAMSTEIN, Germany – From September 9 to 21, twelve Allied nations are joining the Netherland’s annual airborne exercise, called Falcon Leap, to train cargo airdrop and paratrooper landing manoeuvres.
Exercises like Falcon Leap advance joint training objectives and build the foundation for future collective operations; they are a key enabler for NATO showcasing combined efforts and shared goals of the Alliance
During the multinational two-week exercise, participants practice dropping cargo using the Container Delivery System (CDS) and Army paratroopers landings over locations in the Netherlands and Belgium enhancing interoperability among Allies and honing common tactics, techniques and procedures as well as flying skills.
The exercise, led by the Royal Netherlands Air Force’s 11th Air Assault Brigade and the Air Mobility Command, brings together Allies Netherlands, Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Designated drop zones for cargo and Army paratroopers are spread out over the Netherlands and parts of Belgium.
Photo courtesy Netherlands Ministry of Defence
Successfully jumping from one another aircraft builds paratrooper cohesion, routines and skills among Allies which pay out during combine and joint operations.
Photo courtesy Netherlands Ministry of Defence.
Soldiers loading cargo onto an aircraft. The Air-Land Integration exercise practiced airdrop of cargo loads and Army paratroopers in a multinational setting.
Photo courtesy Netherlands Ministry of Defence.
Alongside Army paratroopers, nations have deployed transport aircraft to the Air-Land Integration or ALI training: Dutch C-130H, American C-130J, British and German A-400M, Greek C-27J and C-130, Polish, Portuguese and Spanish C-295, and Romanian C-27J.
An important element of Allied multi-domain operations, ALI can range from tactical to strategic level processes, aiming at seamlessly combining Air and Land forces’ capabilities to achieve joint objectives. The Allied deployments during exercise Falcon Leap have applied NATO’s Agile Combat Employment (ACE) principle under which a force is projected to a remote basis to establish operational readiness and redeploy after the mission is accomplished. The ability to perform ACE deployments is an operational need for both fighter and transport units to increase the survivability and operational effectiveness of our aircraft and systems while posing problems for our adversaries.
Through these joint efforts, Falcon Leap contributes to the overall readiness and resilience of the Alliance and demonstrates the importance of interoperability between member nations promoting common tactics, techniques, and procedures for low-level flying, airdrop, and air landing operations. By training collaboratively with NATO personnel, equipment, and aircraft from various nations, exercises like Falcon Leap advance joint training objectives and build the foundation for future collective operations. Frequent training events with multinational participation, both on the ground and in the air, are a key enabler for NATO showcasing combined efforts and shared goals of the Alliance.