RAMSTEIN, Germany – From May 1 to 31, 2025, NATO’s multinational live-fire integrated air and missile defence (IAMD) exercise - Formidable Shield 25 will be executed from Norway and the United Kingdom.
Formidable Shield is the largest live-fire naval exercise in Europe. The IAMD exercise focusses on maritime operational and tactical interoperability between participating Allies, the scenarios include a series of complex Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) and Air Defence (AD) missions in a complex operating environment.
Nine Allied nations will participate in the naval led multi-domain exercise. The land and air domains will also support; air asset participation include Norwegian F-35s and Eurofighters from the United Kingdom. Norway, the United Kingdom and the United States will also participate with Maritime Patrol Aircraft.
This exercise is the largest live-fire naval exercise in Europe with participation from nine NATO nation. Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jonathan Nye
Formidable Shield is a United States Sixth Fleet-led, multinational exercise taking place in Norway and the United Kingdom. Photo by Captain Alexander Watkin
Exercise Formidable Shield as an Integrated Air and Missile Defence exercise. Photo from Andøya, Norway by Captain Alexander Watkins
The first phase of the exercise will take place at the Andøya firing range in Norway before continuing at the Hebrides Range in Scotland, United Kingdom. The NATO Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft forward deployed to Ørland in Norway to provide command and control capabilities for the exercise.
Two KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft of the United States Air National Guard forward also forward deployed to Ørland to provide the refueling support for the AWACS. In addition to supporting Formidable Shield, the AWACS deployments will conduct training flights for aircrew students assigned to the Aircrew Training Squadron of the E-3A Component.
Formidable Shield 25 is Europe’s largest live-fire naval exercise, U.S. Navy’s Sixth Fleet will lead the exercise with Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO (STRIKFORNATO) executing live-fire and IAMD activities. The exercise, focussed on IAMD, will utilise NATO command and control systems.
Participants will share tactical data, engage in NATO-level planning, and practice coordinated responses to complex scenarios, further enhancing integration and interoperability between Allies and the warfighting domains.