NATO aircraft conduct multi-domain operations over Poland and Baltic region

Europe, News February 6, 2025 , by IRIA No Comments

3 minute read

Fighter jets of NATO Allied nations conducted a complex Find, Fix, Track, and Target (F2T2) exercise over Poland and the Baltic region. The exercise, organized by NATO’s Allied Air Command, evaluated the Alliance’s capability to integrate multi-domain operations in a contested environment.

Eight NATO nations, including Denmark, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, the United Kingdom, and the United States, deployed their aircraft to conduct coordinated multi-domain operations to enhance interoperability.

The exercise involved several aircraft, including the F-35 Lightning II, F-16 Fighting Falcon, and Panavia Tornado, along with intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) assets and aerial refueling tankers such as an Italian KC-767 and NATO’s Multi Role Tanker Transport Capability (MRTT-C).

NATO’s Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) provided airborne command and control, enhancing situational awareness and operational effectiveness throughout the drill.

The F2T2 exercise was conducted as part of a pre-planned training mission, showcasing NATO’s ability to synchronize multi-domain operations, reinforce deterrence, and maintain a high level of readiness.

The main purpose of the F2T2 exercise is to enhance interoperability by integrating intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance assets with strike-capable aircraft in real-time targeting scenarios. During the drills, the participants were challenged to detect, track, and coordinate a simulated strike on designated targets within a specific timeframe.

*^{NATO AWACS operating out of Forward Operating Base Aktion, Greece during exercise Ramstein Flag 24. (Image Credit: Staff Sgt. Andrew Sarver/NATO AWACS)}*

According to the NATO Allied Air Command statement, “These exercises are vital in enhancing NATO’s Counter Anti-Access/Area Denial (C-A2AD) and Integrated Air and Missile Defence (IAMD) capabilities, two key operational priorities for NATO’s air forces.”

The F2T2 exercise is structured to test and refine NATO’s ability to:

Find potential threats using ISR assets, including reconnaissance aircraft and space-based intelligence.
Fix enemy positions by confirming their location and intent through real-time data analysis.
Track targets with persistent surveillance to ensure continuous monitoring.
Target adversary assets effectively by coordinating air, land, and naval forces for a simulated strike.

The F2T2 exercise directly contributes to NATO’s deterrence posture and defense capabilities by enhancing readiness for future conflicts through realistic and high-intensity training, improving joint operations across air, land, and naval domains, as well as refining response strategies for potential threats in regions where NATO air superiority may be challenged.

Commander of NATO Allied Air Command, General James Hecker said on a previous NATO-led F2T2 exercise, “Executing these multi-domain exercises ensures NATO assets are prepared to respond to any potential threat to the Alliance,” adding that “Integration exercises offer opportunities to improve military readiness, tactical proficiency, and the agility of our forces.”

This exercise builds upon NATO’s ongoing efforts to sustain high operational readiness, leading up to Ramstein Flag 2025, a large-scale NATO airpower exercise set to take place in the coming months. By continuously refining its multi-domain operational capabilities, NATO reinforces its ability to deter threats and defend Allied territories effectively, the Allied Air Command statement highlighted.