EAG Annual Review 2020
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Annual Review 2020 European Air Group Annual Review 2020 European Air Group - Improved Capability through Interoperability www.euroairgroup.org Air Warfare begins on the ground. After its past achievements towards Personnel Recovery, the European Air Group is currently conducting several projects of interoperability related to Force Protection. (© R.Nicolas-Nelson/Armée de l'air) EAW HQ in a deployed setting, fast jets (UK Typhoon and French Rafale) and ground close combat (Force Protection Wing comprising RAF and French Air Force units). (MOD Crown copyright) Annual Review 2020 Contents 4 Foreword The European Air Group – From Theory into 5 Practice to Improve Interoperability 4 Eurofighter Typhoon Interoperability – 6 Working Towards a Brighter Future 6 Stand-off Targeting in Highly 8 Contested Environments 8 EUROFIGHT Technical Arrangement – EAG Project 10 with Continuing Relevance to Air Defence Units Advanced Training and Exercises Master Plan (ATMP) – 11 Seizing Opportunities for Multi-National Training 10 HERMES – Harnessing Red Forces Capabilities 12 to Enhance Air Combat Training Synthetic Training: Opportunities for Multi-National 14 Interoperability in the Virtual Environment IMRIT: New Steps towards Remotely Piloted 16 Aircraft Systems' Interoperability STOX TA Coordination Board – Driving forward 18 Force Protection Interoperability Sahrani Island Challenges – VOLCANEX Force 16 20 Protection C2 CPX Making a Difference – 20 22 The EAG FP C2 Handbook Air Force Protection and Countering 24 small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Common Terminology to 22 25 improve Interoperability EAG Aviation Medicine Project: An Enduring and 26 Essential Cooperation Tool serving all Airmen FARP Interoperability – A Force Multiplier for 26 28 Rotary Wing Operations An Agile Approach to CSS Modules for 30 Deployed Operating Airbases 32 Communication and Information Systems – 32 An Interoperability Challenge for the EAG Cyber Domain Awareness – A Challenge for 34 Multinational Operations The Combined Air Interoperability Programme – 36 Where are we now? Standing EAG 38 Technical Arrangements EAG Project 39 Activities 2021 34 1 European Air Group Image shows from top to bottom: French Rafale, Mirage 2000, two RAF Typhoon aircraft. (Dec 2020) Typhoons from RAF Coningsby met with Armée de l'Air Rafale and Mirage 2000 to meet a simulated Non-NATO military aircraft entering the UK Airspace and was supported by RAF Voyager from RAF Brize Norton providing Air-to-Air Refuelling. (MOD Crown copyright) 2 Annual Review 2020 3 European Air Group Foreword the origins of both the European Air Transport Command (EATC) and the European Personnel Recovery Centre (EPRC), with notable successes across Aviation Medicine (AvMed), Force Protection (FP) and Communications and Information Systems (CIS), also conducting field exercises, known within the EAG as VOLCANEX. I have now witnessed where the EAG is most effective, when it focusses on generating tangible, tactical and operational-level outputs. These promote and improve the interoperability of our Air Forces in the short term. The unique aspect of the EAG is its ability to produce the theory (Standard Operating Procedures or Tactics, Techniques and Procedures) and then put theory into practice with field trials and exercises, all in a multi-national environment – no other organisation does this in the same way. In more recent times, our successes have focussed on areas such as the system to exchange Red Air forces, known as HERMES, an Air-Launched Cruise Missile Planning Guide, an FP Technical Arrangement that now has expanded to include Sweden as a Partner Nation, and the FP Command and Control (C2) Handbook, which has been published not only for use by EAG Nations, but had the great pleasure of taking over as Director also is now recognised across NATO as an FP standard. I of the European Air Group (EAG) on 18 Sep 20 at This demonstrates how a small number of determined the start of my appointment as the Belgian Air Nations can forge ahead with agility and provide essential Component Commander. tactical detail that underpins true interoperability, laying the foundation for operations across Europe and NATO. We live in challenging times, not only reacting to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, but also recognising This has been a challenging year for all of us; however, the increasing instability across the World and the I am confident in the high quality of personnel in the EAG proliferating threats both from international terrorist groups and in their ability to work through temporary restrictions using asymmetric tactics, but also witnessing the return of and build momentum for 2021 to deliver tangible results. State competition, widening the threat spectrum to include the newest domains of space and cyber. As technological progress accelerates, making advanced systems more accessible and affordable, it is ever more important that we become fully interoperable - and across all domains. Within that framework, the EAG can add value by ensuring that our 7 Nations’ Air Forces can operate seamlessly together across the full spectrum of activity and provide the touchstone for others to build on with confidence. I am particularly drawn to the core mission of the EAG: ‘to improve operational capabilities of the Parties’ Air Forces, primarily through the mechanisms which enhance Major General Thierry Dupont interoperability’. Founded in 1998 and now a 7 Nation Belgian Air Component Commander organisation, significant progress has been made, including Director EAG 4 Annual Review 2020 The European Air Group – From Theory into Practice to Improve Interoperability he EAG is an independent organisation consisting of Tseven Member nations – Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and the United Kingdom – whose aim is to improve interoperability between the Member Air Forces under the umbrella of an Inter- Governmental Agreement. The EAG aims to improve interoperability within a short timescale, at the tactical and operational levels. Located at RAF High Wycombe in the United Kingdom, the EAG Permanent Staff consists of 3 staff officers and one SNCO from each Nation plus a Deputy Director and Chief of Staff, whose appointments are rotational. One key aspect of the EAG and its effectiveness, is that we have a direct link to the Chiefs of Staff of the Member Nations’ Air Forces. This year, owing to COVID-19 restrictions, the annual meeting of Chiefs was held by VTC (see picture below). This enabled us to receive guidance directly from the Chiefs on their priorities for multinational operations, which ensures that EAG projects are directly relevant to Nations’ Air Forces outputs. by producing outputs such as Technical Arrangements or Standard Operating Procedures, then putting this into ‘practice’ in field trials and exercises to be tested and adjusted in a safe environment, before finally delivering outcomes that directly contribute to interoperability across our Nations’ Air Forces. This year has seen the major impact of COVID-19, restricting our ability to meet face-to-face or conduct exercises. However, we have been able to move forward by installing a video-conferencing facility that permits projects to be taken forward, although some areas still suffer from a lack of face-to-face interaction. The use of video conferencing will permanently change our way of working and enable projects to be progressed without the need for travel; however, meetings and symposiums, as well as field trials, will still need to take place face-to-face. We look forward to working with all EAG Nations and partner organisations for a successful 2021. The following articles highlight the progress being made across a wide field of activities, all designed to increase interoperability in areas such as Air Ops, FP, Logs, and CIS. The EAG has seen particular success where we are able Air Commodore Hugh Smith to get to the tactical detail, firstly looking at the ‘theory’ Deputy Director EAG 5 European Air Group Eurofighter Typhoon Interoperability – Working Towards a Brighter Future “The desire to fly is an idea handed down to us by our ancestors who, in their gruelling travels across trackless lands in prehistoric times, looked enviously on the birds soaring freely through”. – Orville Wright urofighter Typhoon is an advanced multi-role combat aircraft which interoperability, durability, resilience, safety Erecord, reliability and enhancements of the platform ensure that both performance and value are delivered without compromise. The Eurofighter Typhoon project presented its partner nations (Germany, Italy, Spain and UK) with an opportunity to collaborate end-to-end in a 4th Generation multi-role fighter aircraft. However, in the years following its introduction to service, several factors have led to the original four partner nations working more in isolation rather than as a collaborative partnership. Unlike the Lockheed Martin F-35 programme, which has a government-led central co-ordinating office, the NATO Eurofighter and Tornado Management Agency (NETMA) has allowed nations to take greater control and enter into contractual agreements with their respective industry partners (BAE Systems (UK), Airbus (Germany), Leonardo (Italy) and Airbus (Spain)). Unfortunately, this has become a barrier to interoperability, especially in maintenance and logistics as parts become scarcer, fleets diversify with national modifications, and nations become risk-averse following the introduction of more robust, but necessary, airworthiness