RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany -- Airmen from U.S. Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa and NATO were hosted today by Norwegian allies for a Combined Joint All-Domain Command and Control integration exercise. The event trained U.S. and ally forces to integrate, operate, and communicate in the Arctic region across land, sea, air, space and cyberspace platforms.
Combined allied assets included F-35 and F-16 fighter aircraft from the Royal Norwegian Air Force and a NATO E-3 Airborne Early Warning and Control aircraft. Additional Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance aircraft participated as well.
The exercise tested data links and other communication systems between land, maritime surface, space, and airborne command and control assets to identify and overcome barriers to operating in the High North. This training enhances joint readiness and deterrence capabilities, proving the ability of our alliance to conduct long-range information passage and distributed decision-making in unique Arctic conditions.
“Data is the ‘currency of warfare’ that helps us make better decisions faster,” said Gen. Jeff Harrigian, USAFE-AFAFRICA commander. “Exercising the process for multinational and multi-platform data sharing with our allies is essential to maintaining a decisive advantage and ensuring peace and stability in the region.”
USAFE-AFAFRICA supported the event with personnel from the 1st Combat Communications Squadron, Ramstein Air Base; the 4th Expeditionary Air Support Operations Squadron Group, U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden, Germany and the 606th Air Control Squadron, Aviano AB, Italy. U.S. Navy Europe supported the event with the USS Arleigh Burke, a guided missile destroyer, alongside assets from U.S. Space Command.
“Norway is dependent on this type of exercise and cooperation with allied forces,” said Lt. Col. Ole-Marius Tørrisplass at the Norwegian Air Operations Center, Royal Norwegian Air Force. “Today's training is a good example of us moving in the right direction and that we are on the right track in utilizing F-35 effectively in a multi-domain operation, with allies, under a significant denial scenario.”
This event demonstrated the ability of NATO Allies to deploy assets in the Arctic region to develop coalition capabilities in the High North and conduct operations across all domains – a vital capability in an era of great power competition.
For more information on this training event please call +49 (0) 6371-47-6558 or e-mail usafepao.pao@us.af.mil. If after duty hours, please call +49 (0) 1624-25-5428 or e-mail usafepa.pastaffdutyofficer@us.af.mil.