Advanced Tactics and Technology Secure the Baltics in Large Scenario

BALTOPS 2020, considered the premier maritime forces exercise for NATO and Partners, concluded on 16 June 2020.Nineteen Allies plus Partners Finland and Sweden improved flexibility in air defence; anti-submarine warfare; maritime interdiction;and mine countermeasures operations.Naval Striking Forces NATO (STRIKFORNATO) at its new HQ in Lisbon, Portugal implemented the latest technology into their Joint Operations Centre to facilitate Command and Control of the drills.Such new capabilities as recognized maritime picture viewing;NATO common operational picture feeds; joint targeting systems for operational planning;and a tactical data link to communicate with Allied warships at sea were exercised, Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe said.

According to LG Klaus Habersetzen, Commander, Combined Air Operations Centre (CAOL) in Uedem, Germany, which coordinated the operations of the 28 aircraft in the drills:
This challenging mission serves to demonstrate NATO Allies are united and ready to deter conflict and defend the sovereignty of Baltic nations through sea control and power projection.*
BALTOPS unfolded in two phases:
1.Combat Enhancement Training and Force Integration Training (CET-FIT) and
2.Tactical Exercise (TACEX), which gave commanders the freedom to run their own tactical programmes and simulated operations in real world conditions, SHAPE indicated.*

Royal Danish Air Force F-16s Landing at Lajes Field, Azores, Portugal

NATO Tests Air Power in Portugal:Real Thaw 18

NATO's Exercise Real Thaw 18 has been launched at the Portuguese Air Force's Air Base No.5 in Monte Real.Running from 29 January to 9 February 2018,this tenth iteration of the annual warfighting drills is intended to evaluate and certify the PAF's operational capability by replicating a realistic environment,as close as possible to current operational theatres,encompassing air,sea and land operations.*
Some 35 aircraft and 1500 personnel from Allies Denmark,France,the Netherlands,Portugal,Spain,the US and NATO will take part in RT18.Led by the PAF and featuring Portuguese Army and Navy units as well,the exercise's live fire missions will enhance air defence;convoy protection in humanitarian missions;close air support to ground forces and Special Operations Forces;extraction operations of military and civilian elements;cargo and paratrooper drop operations;combat search and rescue;aeromedical evacuations;civil-military cooperation;conventional guided and high accuracy ordnance attacks;and conventional attacks on maritime forces,NATO said.The drills' flying assets will be controlled by NATO E-3A and French E-3F AWACS aircraft.*
RT18 missions will be executed nationwide,day and night,in air,on land and at sea,with the proper precautions in place to protect the civilian populace and the environment.Some of the Allied aircraft involved are the Danish F-16 Fighting Falcon;Spanish F/A-18 Hornet;and US Air Force C-130J Tactical Air Transport from the 94th Airlift Wing out of Dobbins AFB,Georgia.