12 April 2022
Ramstein, Germany – Allied and Partner Air Forces conduct the first iteration of joint Air Policing training over the Baltic Sea to enhance Alliance cohesion and interoperability April 11 -12, 2022
NATO Allies and partners Finland and Sweden, have had a week of intensive cooperation in the skies over Estonia in the just-concluded exercise Ramstein Alloy. The regular NATO exercise focused on real-world scenarios faced by NATO’s Air Policing personnel deployed in the Baltic region.
The drills included air combat training, air-to-air refueling, and identification and escort of an aircraft suffering from communication loss. The exercise was an opportunity to train together and improve the ability of NATO’s air forces to operate together as well as with partners. Crews and aircraft from Belgium, the Czech Republic, Estonia, France, Germany, Spain, Turkey, and the UK took part, alongside the Finnish and Swedish air forces.
Allied fighters train consistently throughout the year with Allies and Partners to maintain the highest levels of readiness and performance
Exercise Ramstein Alloy covers two days of training practicing real-world scenarios faced by Air Policing personnel deployed in the Baltic region. This training is vital to the Baltic Air Policing and enhanced Air Policing detachments. This year’s exercise participants come from Allies Spain, Germany, Czechia, France, Turkey and Belgium, as well as Partners Sweden and Finland.
“Allied fighters train consistently throughout the year with Allies and Partners to maintain the highest levels of readiness and performance,” said Lieutenant General Pascal Delerce, Deputy Commander Allied Air Command. “Exercises such as Ramstein Alloy are the foundation of our Air Policing mission, which is a part of the 360 degree deterrence of the Euro-Atlantic Area,” he added.
A Turkish Air Force E-7T plane took off from Geilenkirchen Air Base, Germany, flying to Estonia to support exercise Ramstein Alloy providing airborne surveillance and control e.g. for fighter-to-fighter aerial combat training. Photo by Arnaud Chamberlin.
The main scenarios the participants conduct are slow-moving intercept and civilian communication loss with escort. Other training areas include a simulated crew ejection with activation of the Search and Rescue chain, air-to-air combat training and air-to-air refueling.