Air Force leaders participate in Steadfast Duel, key Euro-Atlantic defense exercise

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  • By Allied Air Command Public Affairs

U.S. Air Force leaders are participating in Steadfast Duel 2024, a Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE)-led exercise that brings together more than 20 NATO Command and Force Structure headquarters. Participants include Allied Joint Force Command Naples (JFC Naples) and Allied Air Command (AIRCOM) - as the primary exercise participants - in aspects of defense of the Euro-Atlantic area, at the operational and higher tactical levels.

AIRCOM’s participation in this computer-assisted command post exercise simulates the operational directing of aircraft via the production of effective an Air Tasking Order (ATO).

An ATO is a tool that aids the Combined Forces Air Component Commander, General James Hecker, to efficiently and effectively plan, organize and direct air operations through centralized planning. The ATO provides a breakdown of missions for a 24-hour period that includes the aircraft, call signs, times and other information needed for the Air Operations Centre’s members to track and monitor missions.

Steadfast Duel will not only allow AIRCOM to reinforce a lot of best practices of NATO’s air component, but also allow for experimentation of growing capabilities, such as different methods of producing the ATO.

Steadfast Duel will inform AIRCOM on how to best employ airplane sorties, through an effective ATO process, delivering effects across the domains of operations, whether that’s ground-based, maritime-based, air-based, or space-based effects (Photo courtesy: NATO Allied Command Transformation).

“Steadfast Duel 24 is one of the most important events on our AIRCOM exercise calendar,” said General James Hecker, Allied Air Command Commander. “This exercise offers us at AIRCOM a challenging opportunity to practice delivering airpower on behalf of NATO; and also allows us to further experiment with our processes and command and control structure with the ultimate goal of identifying a much more resilient and adaptable structure,” General Hecker added.   

By refining and exercising AIRCOM’s processes, Steadfast Duel will provide detailed information, lessons learned and best practices on how to best employ aircraft sorties, through an effective ATO process, delivering effects across the domains of operations, whether ground, maritime, air, or space-based effects.   

The exercise will also enhance liaison between AIRCOM, NATO’s land component, the NATO Space Operations Centre, and other components critical for multi-domain operations.   

“Whilst Steadfast Deterrence 2024 exercised elements of NATO’s deterrence strategy, Steadfast Duel 2024 will exercise NATO entities in the defense of the Alliance, employing all military capabilities, including cyberspace and space within a complex scenario,” retired British Army Maj. Gen. Roger Lane, Senior Exercise Control Advisor for both exercises, said in June 2024 during the workshop for the exercise held at the NATO Joint Warfare Centre in Stavanger, Norway.

Steadfast Duel will inform AIRCOM on how to best employ airplane sorties, through an effective ATO process, delivering effects across the domains of operations, whether that’s ground-based, maritime-based, air-based, or space-based effects.