Operation Atlantic Resolve:Sustaining and Enhancing NATO Land Forces

On 24 September 2020 the Department of the Army announced the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team,1st Cavalry Division out of Fort Hood, Texas will deploy to Europe this fall . The ABCT will replace the 2nd ABCT,3rd Infantry Division in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve, demonstrating the US commitment to NATO Allies and Partners. According to 1st ABCT Commander COL Michael D. Schoenfeldt: The Ironhorse Brigade is honored to deploy in support of Atlantic Resolve exercises as a regularly aligned force in Europe...The Ironhorse Brigade is lethal,tough and ready.We do not take lightly our responsibility to instill confidence in the American people and our Allies;nor the opportunity to instill fear in our enemies.* The 1st ABCT has about 3700 troops;80 M1 Abrams Main Battle Tanks;80 Bradley Fighting Vehicles;and 18 M109A6 Paladin 155 mm self-propelled Howitzers.* Also assisting Atlantic Resolve will be the new US Army V Corps HQ (Forward) in Poznan, Poland.The V Corps HQ at Fort Knox, Kentucky will staff this new command post in Europe,rotating in a portion of its 635 Soldiers.This first rotation of personnel is expected to arrive in October 2020.LTG John S. Kolasheski is Commander of the forward HQ.According to US Army Europe,V Corps HQ (Forward) will primarily be conducting operational planning, mission command and oversight of rotational forces in Europe.As well,it will provide more capability to support Allies and Partners in the region.The forward HQ will also play a key role in DEFENDER-Europe 21,the drills planned for the Balkan and Black Sea Region from May-June 2021.* Atlantic Resolve was initiated in April 2014 in response to Russian aggression against Ukraine.At any given time,it has about 6,000 US troops on nine month rotations in Europe.Their mission is to build readiness and increase interoperability with Ally and Partner nations.AR includes armoured, aviation and sustainment task force rotations.These ready, combat-credible forces conduct operations and exercises in 17 countries, showing our unremitting commitment to NATO and Europe.*

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NORAD Operations • Operation Noble Defender - 5 Wing,Goose Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador

Operation Noble Defender:NORAD Reacts to Russia

From 20-23 September 2020,NORAD is conducting a Dynamic Force Employment operation,Operation Noble Defender.A DFE operation prioritises major combat capabilities, while at the same time providing options for scalable military operations,NORAD said: As a bi-national command, NORAD is drawing on forces from both countries to respond to increased Russian military activity along the periphery of both nations.* For example,on 18 September 2020,NORAD scrambled F-22 Raptors and E-3 AWACS, supported by KC-135 refueling air tankers, to intercept two Russian Tu-160 bombers and two Su-35 fighters which had entered the Alaska Air Identification Zone (ADIZ) three times, lingering there about four hours.Indeed,this was actually part of a marathon mission by the Russian bombers which lasted 25 hours,a record for the Tu-160.The bombers had taken off from Engels Air Base near Saratov in Southern Russia,then flew via the Barents Sea to the central Arctic Ocean and over the Northern Sea Route towards the Pacific in the Russian Far East, and finally heading over Siberia and back to Engels.The mammoth mission crossed over a number of seas, including the Kara,Laptov,East Siberian and Chukchi Seas.* Operation Noble Defender is taking place in all three NORAD Regions: Continental United Stayes (CONR); Alaska (ANR);and Canadian (CANR). Participating are the F-22 Raptor, F-16 Fighting Falcon and CF-18 Hornet fighters, supported by E-3 AWACS and CC-150T Polaris refueling tankers.Under the operational control of Canadian NORAD Region,these assets will exhibit agile and dynamic force employment to and from critical NORAD forward operating bases along the northern approaches to North America.Said Royal Canadian Air Force MG Eric Kenny, Commander,CANR: This extensive operation shows the iron-clad relationship that exists within the NORAD team.We stand ready to deter and defeat threats along our approaches.* One of the units taking part in DFE operations is 140th Fighter Wing of the Colorado Air National Guard.It headed to 5 Wing,Goose Bay,Newfoundland and Labrador with its F-16s.*

Point Blank 20-04 - F15s taxing and taking off - RAF Lakenheath

USMC LTC Joseph F. Freshour,commander of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 211 (VFMA-211) said Exercise Point Blank 20-04 on 10 September 2020 over the North Sea off of Scotland:
 is an opportunity to conduct realistic, relevant training with US Air Force and NATO'S Allies, expanding our global influence by developing capabilities that can share the burden in addressing common defense challenges.Exercises like Point Blank allow us to validate digital interoperability with RAF 617 Squadron.*
The Point Blank series is recurring and low-cost, but increases tactical proficiency and demonstrates a collective commitment to regional security, the US Air Force observed.*
The complex warfighting scenario emphasised defensive counter air integration.It allowed our warfighters to practise fighting a near-peer adversary, boosting interoperability with diverse airframes.Participants included more than 50 warplanes from the US Air Force;US Marine Corps; Royal Air Force; and Royal Netherlands Air Force. In the scenario,RAF Eurofighter Typhoons played the aggressor role against USMC,RAF and RNAF fifth generation F-35 Lighting II Joint Strike Fighters.The Typhoons simulated the tactics and threats of NATO adversaries while challenging their colleagues in a series of complex aerial skirmishes that tested the pilots' skills and pushed the world-class fighter jets to their limits, explained RAF Lossiemouth Station Commander Group Captain Chris Layden.
Added GEN Jeff Harrington,US Air Forces Europe Commander:
This ultimately makes us experts at what we do, which is deliver air superiority anywhere across the globe.*
Indeed, the drills showcased the Allied Air Forces as they sharpened combat readiness so that they can respond anytime and anywhere an alert summons them.*
Besides the F-35s and Typhoons, other planes in the drills included USAF F-15C Eagles;USAF and RNAF F-16 Fighting Falcons; the B-52H Stratofortress strategic bomber; and the KC-135 Stratotanker.*

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Coalition welcomes new commander, continues mission - Defeating Islamic State (Daesh)

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USMC F-35 - Arrival - RAF Marham - 03/09/20

On 3 September 2020 a US Marine Corps squadron of F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters began an extensive deployment to RAF Marham, England.The evening touch down of Fighter Attack Squadron 211,VMFA-211,out of Yuma Air Station, Arizona began an historic first deployment to England for the Wake Island Avengers.They will train with RAF Squadron 617,who also fly the Lockheed Martin F-35 stealth fighters, preparing for a joint mission on board the new British aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth on her inaugural deployment in 2021,Exercise Joint Warrior.*
Following those drills,VMFA-211 will prepare for Exercise Crimson Warrior, which will consist of high-end warfighting drills for multi-domain operations.
Commander of the Marine Corps squadron is LTC Joseph F. Freshour.They transitioned to the F-35B from the AV-8B Harrier in 2016.RAF Marham is the home base for the RAF F-35 programme.*

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Ukrainian Fighter Jets Fly Alongside U.S. B-52 Bombers

On 4 September 2020, three US Air Force B-52H Stratofortress heavy bombers plus Ukrainian Su-27 and Mig-29 fighter aircraft patrolled near the Sea of Azov in support of the Bomber Task Force mission.An unidentified AWACS is also shown in the video.The Sea of Azov is connected to the Black Sea by the Kerch Strait.It is bordered by Ukraine and Russia.

US Army M270 MLRS • Multiple Launch Rocket System - undisclosed location

US Army Europe has deployed a battery of Multiple Launch Rocket Systems to Tapa, Estonia for Exercise Rail Gunner Rush.Bravo Battery,1st Battalion,6th Field Artillery Regiment,41st Field Artillery Brigade will participate in its first live-fire exercise outside of Grafenwoehr, Germany.The drills,running from 1-8 September 2020,will test their deployment skills,as well as readiness and interoperability with NATO Allies Denmark and the UK in Battle Group Estonia,and of course their hosts in the Estonia Defence Forces' 1st Infantry Brigade.
The 41st provides strategic,operational and tactical level fires and support throughout EUCOM,USAEUR said.The exercise will showcase USAEUR'S ongoing commitment to NATO and appreciation for the EDF, allowing it to deploy long-range precision fire assets to NATO'S Eastern Flank.
The FAB'S personnel, vehicles and equipment were transported to Estonia from Germany by means such as road,rail and air.The transport effort was achieved within three weeks' time.Said 1-6 FAR Commander CAPT Andrew McLucas:
It's a great opportunity, and I am really excited to get to know the Estonians we are working with.*