Command and Control:Empowering NATO in the Baltic

A multi-pronged NATO Command and Control exercise led by the US has been held over the Baltic Sea recently, according to the Royal Air Force.An RAF Rivet Joint Intelligence Surveillance Target Acquisition and Reconaissance Force (ISTAR) aircraft from RAF Waddington took part.The Rivet Joint,from 51 Squadron,joined in the major drills that were intended to test and demonstrate the ability of the US and its Allies to integrate their Command and Control procedures,thus ensuring interoperability.Also participating were aircraft from the US Air Force,US Navy and Royal Netherlands Air Force.Few details of the highly classified missions were disclosed.* The exercise was designated a Joint All-Domain Command and Control Demonstration,as it demonstrated that NATO Allies can integrate Air, Maritime, Cyber and Space activities into a coordinated exercise to rehearse possible future operations, the RAF explained.Said GEN Jeff Harrigian,Commander US Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa: Conducting a complex and real-world focused JADCCD allowed our joint and allied team to find areas where we can innovate with systems we already have and also to identify areas where our warfighters need assistance from the Air and Space Forces' Chief Architect's Office.* There were two scenarios.In the first one,part of the US National Defense Strategy,it was shown that NATO can bring its military assets into the Baltic Sea to generate firepower inside an area that an adversary believes to be protected by Anti-Access/Area Denial technology; while in the second one,it was demonstrated that NATO can defend the infrastructure that facilitates such force projection.* Added RAF Group Captain Jim Beldon MBE, Deputy Commander of RAF ISTAR Force: It is very important to be able to integrate our RAF RC-135W Rivet Joint aircraft into this exercise, which is aimed at testing and developing the Advanced Battle Management System.This system will merge information from a variety of sources, which enables commanders to react rapidly and decisively in dynamic operational situations.* The drills required the joint force to come together on and above the Baltic Sea, generating combat power against potential adversaries while defending the infrastructure needed for mobilisation.* The RAF Rivet Joint, also in the US Air Force inventory, can absorb electronic emissions from radar and other communications systems at altitudes up to 39,000 ft.*