North Atlantic Treaty Organization
Allied Command Operations
July 30, 2013
NATO Response Force Training Takes Off with Live Air Manoeuvres in Norway
====
Brilliant Arrow 2013 is the first live-fly exercise prepared and conducted by HQ AIRCOM, NATO’s single Air Command. Forty fighter aircraft, two airborne early warning platforms, three transport aircraft, four helicopters as well as other support aircraft will train within a challenging and realistic scenario that also involves air defence units on the ground.
The purpose of the series of exercises is to train and test the NATO Response Force, a highly ready and technologically advanced multinational force made up of land, air, maritime and special forces components that the Alliance can deploy quickly wherever needed.
====
This fall, Allied Command Operations will conduct a wide variety of dynamic and demanding exercises that will put both troops and commanders from the NATO Response Force (NRF) to the test. NATO has ambitious plans to increase training activity over the next few years in order to maintain readiness and interoperability. This will include more ambitious and frequent exercises, a broader range of scenarios, and a comprehensive training plan to cover the full range of Alliance missions.
The next major Alliance training event is Exercise Brilliant Arrow, which will involve around 50 military aircraft and approximately 800 exercise participants in the central region of Norway from 25 August to 5 September 2013. The exercise, conducted by HQ Allied Air Command (HQ AIRCOM) at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, is the first in a series of manoeuvres taking place this autumn designed to hone the skills and interoperability of the NRF.
Brilliant Arrow 2013 is the first live-fly exercise prepared and conducted by HQ AIRCOM, NATO’s single Air Command. Forty fighter aircraft, two airborne early warning platforms, three transport aircraft, four helicopters as well as other support aircraft will train within a challenging and realistic scenario that also involves air defence units on the ground.
One of General Breedlove’s key priorities as Supreme Commander Allied Powers Europe (SACEUR) is maintaining the unparalleled level of interoperability among allies and partners as a result of recent and intense operational experiences.
“Exercise Brilliant Arrow will hone the skills of allied air forces in orchestrating air operations,” said General Philip Breedlove. “This level of capability and interoperability will be needed if the involved units are activated under the NATO Response Force,” he said.
The exercise is centred around Oerland Main Air Station in Norway. Nine other NATO members – France, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Turkey and the United Kingdom – will also participate.
The participating units and HQ AIRCOM will be on standby for a potential NRF mission in 2014.
Several NRF exercises will be conducted this fall in order to keep the Alliance fit for the future. In addition to the air exercise, Maritime manoeuvres will be conducted in late September and early October (Exercise Brilliant Mariner) and a variety of land-based exercises have already occurred. The NATO Response Force training for 2013 will culminate with Exercise Steadfast Jazz, which takes place in early November in a number of Alliance nations including the Baltic States and Poland. Air, land, maritime and special forces components will all be exercised, as well as the headquarters staff from Joint Force Command Brunssum who will be expected to lead NATO joint operations next year.
The purpose of the series of exercises is to train and test the NATO Response Force, a highly ready and technologically advanced multinational force made up of land, air, maritime and special forces components that the Alliance can deploy quickly wherever needed. The goal is to make sure that NRF headquarters and troops are ready to deal with any situation in any environment.
“The NATO Response Force is a key-component of NATO’s collective defence capabilities,” said General Breedlove. “The NATO Response Force is also essential in maintaining and enhancing the ability of forces from across the Alliance to work together, which will be increasingly important as our mission in Afghanistan winds-down and we prepare to meet future challenges,” he added.
As the operational tempo is expected to decrease after the combat mission in Afghanistan is completed at the end of 2014, NATO will step up training to maintain readiness and interoperability. NATO Defence Ministers in February 2013 endorsed plans to revitalise NATO’s exercise programme. This will include more ambitious and frequent exercises, a broader range of scenarios, and a comprehensive training plan out to 2020 to cover the full range of Alliance missions. Nations will also be encouraged to open national exercises to NATO participation, which will provide further opportunities to enhance Alliance interoperability.
Source