Subscribe
More than 50 aircraft from across Europe, including Germany, Poland, and the United States, are participating in this year’s BALTOPS exercise in the Baltic Region. Of the 50, there are three B-52H Stratofortresses from Barksdale Air Force Base, La., and three B-1B Lancers from Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D. From inert-mine laying and recovery to rapid response simulations, the strategic use of bombers, along with tankers and fighter aircraft, in annual exercises such as BALTOPs and Saber Strike enable the U.S. to demonstrate our collective ability to deter aggression anywhere, any time.
The inclusion of bombers in this exercise provides an opportunity for Air Force Global Strike Airmen and aircraft to integrate and train with other U.S. aircraft and U.S. European Command (USEUCOM) components, while exercising key bomber capabilities. These flights demonstrate the ability of the U.S. bomber force to provide a credible, flexible, and always-ready capability to respond when called to do so.
For the 45th iteration, BALTOPS continues to allow NATO allies and partners to come together and enhance collaborative capabilities that simulate real-world scenarios. The training phases within BALTOPS include structured events with regimented start and stop times to improve specific interoperability objectives as well as less scripted scenarios that allow for training in a realistic environment. Exercises such as BALTOPS and Saber Strike provide vital opportunities not only for multiple U.S. services to work together, but for integrated, total force training with U.S. Reserve Citizen Airmen and Air National Guard units and our partner nations’ militaries to ensure interoperability. This cohesive effort is the bedrock of our collective military capability.
“The emphasis on air integration is very important to us. We know that we are never going to fight alone – it’s always going to be joint, it’s always going to be combined. Which is why on the combined side it’s a NATO exercise, and on the joint side we want to fight in all domains and practice that integration. That means air, sea and land,” said U.S. Navy Vice Adm. Christopher Grady, commander, Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO.
The U.S. Air Force can provide global vigilance, reach and power at a moment’s notice. This is possible because of our NATO alliance. Multinational training enables both the U.S. Air Forces in Europe and the participating NATO allied and partner militaries to extend joint warfighting capability through operational training. BALTOPS 2017 allows the U.S., the Baltics, and other allied and partner nations to integrate capabilities and enhance interoperability to help sustain our alliance while ensuring the security and stability of the region.
"I think this exercise sends a very clear message to not only NATO but the rest of the world, that this agreement stands fast, that we are not going to sit idly by and allow a NATO nation to be potentially violated," said U.S. Navy Cmdr. Edward Chandler, BALTOPS Air Syndicate Lead.
These operations and engagements with Allies and partners demonstrate and strengthen America’s commitment to global security and stability.
| Date Taken: | 06.09.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 06.09.2017 12:06 |
| Story ID: | 237063 |
| Location: | POWIDZ, PL |
| Web Views: | 82 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, Ensuring Global Reach through Interoperable Partnerships, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
LEAVE A COMMENT