GERMANY -- A 100th Air Refueling Wing KC-135 Stratotanker refuels a Belgian F-16 Fighting Falcon in the skies over Germany during Exercise Brilliant Arrow, Sept. 21, 2011. The F-16 was one of 28 fighter aircraft participating in the multinational air exercise conducted by NATO. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Ethan Morgan)

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GERMANY -- A Belgian F-16 Fighting Falcon flies away from a 100th Air Refueling Wing KC-135 Stratotanker, after receiving fuel over Germany during Exercise Brilliant Arrow, Sept. 21, 2011. The F-16 participated in the multinational air exercise conducted by NATO. Germany, Belgium, Turkey and the U.S. were among the participating nations. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Ethan Morgan)

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GERMANY -- A Belgian F-16 Fighting Falcon, moves into place over Germany, to receive fuel from a 100th Air Refueling Wing KC-135 Stratotanker during Exercise Brilliant Arrow, Sept. 21, 2011. The exercise gave participating nations an opportunity to work and train together in preparation for NATO Response Force 2012. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Ethan Morgan)

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GERMANY -- A Belgian F-16 Fighting Falcon breaks away from the boom of a KC-135 Stratotanker, assigned to the 100th Air Refueling Wing, after receiving fuel over Germany Sept. 21, 2011. The F-16 participated in Exercise Brilliant Arrow, a multinational air exercise. Germany, Belgium, the United States and Turkey were among the participating nations. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Jerilyn Quintanilla)

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GERMANY -- A Belgian F-16 Fighting Falcon receives fuel from a KC-135 Stratotanker assigned to the 100th Air Refueling Wing over Germany Sept. 21, 2011. The F-16 participated in Exercise Brilliant Arrow; a multinational air exercise conducted by NATO and was one of 28 fighter aircraft participating. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Jerilyn Quintanilla)

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GERMANY -- Three Belgian F-16 Fighting Falcons sit at the tip of the wing of a KC-135 Stratotanker assigned to the 100th Air Refueling Wing over Germany Sept. 21, 2011. The F-16 participated in Exercise Brilliant Arrow, a multinational air exercise. Belgium, Germany, the United States and Turkey were among the participating nations. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Jerilyn Quintanilla)

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Exercise Brilliant Arrow hits bulls-eye on international relations

Published Sept. 28, 2011
By Senior Airmen Ethan Morgan and Jerilyn Quintanilla
100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

ROYAL AIR FORCE MILDENHALL, England -- Germany hosted Exercise Brilliant Arrow, an international multi-service exercise designed as a live flying and command post exercise, Sept. 12 - 23.

Exercise Brilliant Arrow 2011 provided force integration and mission readiness training in preparation for NATO Response Force 2012.

Military Services from Germany, Belgium, Turkey, Lithuania and the United States were among the participating countries. More than 30 aircraft and 1,200 people, operating from 15 different locations, made for a diverse and elaborate operation.

The exercise is specially designed to enhance the professional preparation of multinational air forces. A crisis response operation is initiated to teach the members what is needed to successfully carry out all tasks that would be required to provide peace and stability.

Editor's note: Information courtesy of Lutwaffe press office was used in this article.