Joint training improves allied aerial capabilities

  • Published
  • By Airman Dymekre Allen
  • 86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany --  Airmen from the 1st Combat Communications Squadron joined forces with Airmen from Royal Air Force Mildenhall and Lakenheath to conduct aerial combat training in Norway with several European nations.

"These exercises improve the Air Force mission by providing opportunities to learn and test the capabilities of aircraft in a multi-national environment using a myriad of scenarios," said 2nd Lt. Ryan Henderson, 1st CBCS director of operations.

Their mission was to conduct an Arctic Challenge Exercise, which is a realistic combat training aimed to test the abilities of the Air Force in a joint operation that included the United States, Britain, Finland, Norway, and Sweden, to improve their aerial capabilities on both a tactical and strategic level.

"During this exercise, we will face almost every scenario that could be seen in any war or conflict," said Maj. Rich Stringer, 494th Fighter Squadron assistant director of operations from RAF Lakenheath.

The challenge and partnership brought together more than 60 combat aircraft from each nation for the combined air combat training drills.

"Our mission is to prepare to rapidly deploy and operate tactical communications in flight with partner nations, which is critical to national security and NATO," said Henderson.

For RAF Mildenhall, the scenarios provided an opportunity to train in a crowded airspace affording them a chance practice war-fighting missions and operations in a simulated deployment.

The aerial training pointed out key vulnerabilities that needed improvement.

"The biggest challenge was communication," said Henderson. "The radio communications over the mountainous Norwegian terrain is difficult, but by integrating U.S. and Norwegian radio systems we can provide a more robust radio trunking system."

The trunking system is a complex type of computer-controlled two-way radio system that allows sharing of relatively few radio frequency channels among a large group for the flyers.