NATO’s important Ramstein Flag exercise, personnel and assets from 12 allied countries, has been successfully concluded
In the period between 30 September and 11 October 2024, the exercise event called “Ramstein Flag 2024” (RAFL24) took place at the Araxos and Andravida air bases, home to the 116th and 117th Combat Wings of the Hellenic Air Force respectively. RAFL24 was organized by NATO’s Allied Air Command, based at Ramstein Air Base in Germany. It was the main training event that saw member countries provide sophisticated “live-fly” training at a multi-domain tactical level, over 1100 sorties in realistic scenarios, in a complex and contested operational environment.
The Air Force has made available for livex activities a significant use of military and vehicles, including: omnirole aircraft of the 5th Generation F-35 “Lightning II”, capable of using a technology capable of receiving and merging information and communications from different sources in real time, helping to create an awareness of the operational scenario, reliable, complete and usable, also for the other assets present in the area of operations and at the command centers; an MQ-9A “Predator” remotely piloted aircraft (UAV), capable of detecting the presence of threats and monitoring the areas of operations by distributing information useful for understanding the environment of interest in detail; an E.550 CAEW (Conformal Airborne Early Warning) aircraft with air surveillance, command, control and communications functions, instrumental to air supremacy and support to ground forces; a KC-767A in-flight refueling aircraft and C-130J four-engine turboprop transport aircraft, which operated from their respective parent bases. A percentage of personnel of about 90 men and women, including pilots, technical and logistical personnel, supported the operational activity of the 4 Eurofighter “Typhoon” fighters capable of offering wide-ranging operational capabilities and unparalleled effectiveness in the Air Defense sector, deployed for the occasion on Hellenic soil, coming from all the “fighter” wings of the Air Force.
The exercise scenario allowed the military and assets of the 12 participating countries to increase and refine important training capabilities, such as conducting air operations in an environment with an important air and ground threat and to exercise realistic tactics/techniques and procedures (TTP) to counter area access/interdiction (C-A2/AD) and Integrated Air and Missile Defence (NATO IAMD) activities. The “Ramstein Flag 24” integrated the activities of hundreds fighter aircraft, support aircraft, land, sea, space and cyber assets under NATO Command and Control, with the main objective of strengthening cooperation, interoperability and integration by demonstrating NATO’s resolve, commitment and ability to deter potential adversaries and defend the Alliance through multi-domain operations. At the end of the exercise, the Commander of the redeployment, Major Alfredo P., highlighted the training effectiveness in operating in realistic and changing scenarios, in order to consolidate the ability to use the weapon systems supplied and through planning and combined combat with a large number of aircraft, the ability to operate jointly in a joint and multinational context.
The Commander of the Air Squad – 1st Air Region, Air Force General Alberto Biavati, at the end of the exercise met the military personnel deployed on Hellenic soil and expressed his appreciation for the excellent training results achieved, for the absolute dedication and constant commitment highlighted also on this occasion, in a multinational showcase that sees the Armed Force increasingly protagonist in the Atlantic Alliance. Il Gen. Biavati also wanted to recall how exercises of this type are very important to enhance and improve the training level of flight crews and all personnel. Finally, he underlined how the most precious resource always remains the professionalism of the personnel, a key element of any organization, military and otherwise, to operate competently in any complex and dynamic operational context. It was an important commitment that involved the General Staff of the Air Squad Command – 1st Air Region in defining the training and exercise guidelines aimed at achieving the standards required for the preparation of the Departments involved, as well as not consolidating relations with the Greek Air Force and the participating countries. The Combat Forces Command, which provided a Force Offering, with the participation of the F-35 team (which operated from their respective Departments), the F2000 assets (which redeployed to Greece), as well as the MQ-9 aircraft (which operated as a homebase). The Aerospace Operations Command which took care of the operational and training organization of the event. The contribution of the Mobility and Support Forces Command was always important, which contributed with a varied air component that covered multiple roles including the multiplier capacity of the Air Forces covered by the KC-767A aircraft in the role of Tanker, the E-550A CAEW aircraft and the C-130J aircraft in the role of tactical transport. The exercise also involved the Automated Information Systems Department and the 4th Telecommunications and D.A./V.A. Systems Brigade, Departments of the 3rd Division of the A.M. Logistic Command, which provided the necessary CIS support to the operation, through the creation of a Reach-Back link with Italy and ensuring Aeronet, telephone and SILEF services for operations.
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