Because of , NATO’s core mission—collective defense—is a focal point once again.

All for One in NATO By Marc V. Schanz, Senior Editor

Royal Netherlands soldiers and a US Army Black Hawk helicopter participate in Noble Jump, a NATO Very High Readiness Joint Task Force exercise, in June.

28 AIR FORCE Magazine / October 2015 to a meeting in Brussels of the alliance’s Defense Ministers. Beyond reassuring allies worried about Russian intentions, NATO is struggling to deal with the violence and turmoil of the Middle East and North Africa that directly affects members such as France, Greece, Italy, Spain, and Turkey, all of them awash in refugees. From the east to the south, NATO must adapt to a “fundamentally changed” ATO is reassessing and enable future operations on the eastern security environment, Stoltenberg said. transforming its military front. The Crimea crisis also invigorated In March remarks at a NATO confer- capabilities and organiza- efforts to field better alliance-owned ence in Washington, D.C., Stoltenberg tion to better carry out its capabilities—intelligence, surveillance, pointed out that “for the first time in central mission: collective and reconnaissance tools in particular— NATO’s history” it must embrace and defense.N to provide better “strategic warning” fortify its commitment to collective The alliance is engaged in a robust and ISR collection to monitor threats, defense in light of Russia’s aggression update of its training and exercises and especially preparations for war. and simultaneously reform its ability re-tooling what members contribute to to quickly assess and respond to global collective operations. The overhaul is RE I I A O crises wherever they emerge. needed to respond to 21st century threats, NATO officials say collective de- “We have to do both at the same time,” such as the “hybrid warfare” launched fense—the driving provision of the 1949 he said. By doing so, NATO nations and by Russia in its early 2014 invasion of treaty creating the organization—has re- their militaries will better confront the Ukraine. ally not been rethought since the alliance challenges of hybrid war, which he called Since Russia’s seizure of Crimea, bloomed to 28 members in the post-Cold a “dark reflection” of the alliance’s ap- NATO has been busy with a series of ini- War era. Current reforms have implica- proach to collective security. The term tiatives meant to reassure its easternmost tions far beyond today’s disagreement refers to using military and nonmilitary members. These include creating and with Moscow over a nation, Ukraine, force to destabilize countries, using reinforcing new rapid-reaction military that is not a NATO member. proxy forces, propaganda, special opera- capabilities, streamlining the alliance’s “We are not in a situation, tions, and intimidation to lay a “thick fog ponderous political-military decision- but we are not in a strategic partnership of confusion” over aggressive military making process, and forming new joint with Russia, either,” Secretary actions. This approach is nothing less headquarters and logistics nodes to Jens Stoltenberg said in June, just prior than “a test of our resolve to resist and

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AIR FORCE Magazine / October 2015 to defend ourselves,” Stoltenberg said, time. The long-running effort to trans- erations forces, organized and equipped and NATO must respond. form NATO operations in the years after to respond to threats within 48 hours. In According to Royal Danish Army the Cold War will be “accelerated,” April, it reached interim capability—full Gen. Knud Bartels, head of NATO’s Bartels said last October. operational capability is projected for Military Committee from July 2012 For an organization placing high value 2016—and began a series of exercises to May 2015, what is now occurring in on deliberation and consensus-building, focused on alert procedures and rapid NATO is nothing short of a “reposturing the last year has seen a rapid pace of deployment. of the alliance at the military level.” reform. Some of the revamped military Ongoing assurance activities, such as capabilities and concepts—first articu- NOBLE JUMP exercises launched in the wake of the lated at the alliance’s September 2014 In early June, NATO carried out Exer- Crimean annexation, are being linked Wales Summit—are now operational, cise Noble Jump 2015, a full deployment to NATO’s Connected Forces Initia- most notably the Very High Readiness exercise of the interim VJTF in Zagan, tive (CFI). Joint Task Force (VJTF), also known as Poland, involving some 2,100 troops from Started before Russia’s Crimea inva- the Spearhead Force. nine alliance countries simulating a de- sion, the CFI seeks to better connect The 5,000-strong rapid response group ployment from Central Europe to Eastern NATO militaries and speed up response comprises land, air, sea, and special op- Europe. The event marked the first time

NATO photos Above: A Norwegian air force F-16 during an air policing mission over the Baltics. Left: A NATO E-3 AWACS at Siauliai AB, Lithuania. The ISR aircraft have been heavily involved in monitor- ing the alliance’s eastern periphery.

the interim force deployed to conduct simulated tactical maneuvers as part of a reinvigorated NATO Response Force. In February, NATO Defense Ministers approved the enhancement of the NATO Response Force in light of the new threats facing the alliance, declaring they would expand its size to 30,000 troops, repre- senting two additional brigades’ worth of rapid reinforcement capability coupled to the VJTF. 30 AIR FORCE Magazine / October 2015 The Supreme Allied Commander he said. “What’s actually changing a meaningful way and taking the lead. Transformation (SACT), French air force here?” he asked rhetorically. “Yes, That, of course, is very welcome,” Lute Gen. Jean-Paul Palomeros, speaking with we’re exercising more in the east, but observed. media at Noble Jump in June, said the what are we doing internally to reset In addition, the alliance in June event combined many of the concepts ourselves for these new challenges?” approved the design of six small head- articulated in NATO’s CFI, and reinforced The answer came in the form of sev- quarters elements in Bulgaria, Estonia, the creation of the Spearhead Force. eral enhancements to NATO’s reform , Lithuania, Poland, and Roma- “Today is the mark of determination of plans, agreed to during the June defense nia. Each will be staffed by about 40 NATO, of the allies, to regain on readi- ministerial in Brussels. These expanded people and play a key role in planning ness, to re-emphasize credibility,” and the support mechanisms for the NATO NATO military events in those countries, show it has the capability to conduct high Response Force and the Spearhead exercising and assisting in potential intensity operations rapidly, Palomeros Force. Ministers approved an increase reinforcement in the event of crisis. A said. Stoltenberg attended the event as in the strength and capabilities of the senior NATO policy official, speaking well and touted its success days before NRF— particularly air, maritime, and on background, said these “NATO Force the alliance’s June defense ministerial special operations forces, Stoltenberg Integration Units” will be operational in Brussels. said in June. “All together, the enhanced by Jan. 1, 2016.

NATO photo by Mass Comm. Spec. 1st Class Josh Keim

“The establishment of this new Spear- NATO Response Force will consist of A corporal fires an anti- head Force and the exercise in Poland up to 40,000 personnel,” he said, more tank rocket at a live fire range during sends a very clear signal that NATO than triple its previous level of some Noble Jump. The exercise marked the first deployment drill for the interim is here. And NATO is ready,” he said. 13,000 troops. Spearhead Force of 2,100 troops from The refinement of the NRF and the The range of forces available to the nine NATO nations. creation of the VJTF are only the first NRF and VJTF allows alliance leaders steps in NATO’s reboot of collective to change their compositions depend- “It’s slightly different for each country, defense activities. US Ambassador to ing on the scenario and which allies but it is mostly a national process,” the NATO Douglas E. Lute told reporters contribute forces, a senior NATO policy official said in a June briefing at NATO in June that since May 2014, the US official said. While Spain will lead the headquarters. These integration units, and many NATO allies have ramped up first fully operational Spearhead Force experts on the character and capabilities exercising across NATO’s easternmost next year, seven other NATO allies have of the local forces and facilities, are to member states: those in the Baltics, plus signed up to lead it in the future, Lute “ease and speed up the incoming VJTF,” Poland, Bulgaria, and Romania. The said. These additions and commitments he said. next step of the alliance’s readiness show the VJTF has depth, he said, and At the June meeting, alliance Defense enhancement plans, he said, has to do the force is not just a concept on paper. Ministers approved formation of a Joint with “how NATO is actually adapting,” “The European allies are stepping up in Standing Logistics Group (JSLG), inside AIR FORCE Magazine / October 2015 31 Photo via USAF

An F-15C intercepts a Russian Su-24 attack aircraft during a NATO air policing mission.

of NATO’s command structure. It will North Atlantic Council had to approve its Afghanistan International Security enable reception, staging, and onward any alliance preparations for potential Assistance Force combat mission. This movement of NATO Response Force operations. For the VJTF to act swiftly, has freed up forces to develop high- or spearhead units called to action. it must be allowed to prepare while intensity interoperability exercises. This group will provide all manner NATO’s political process plays out, The first major milestone in this plan of supply to rapidly deploying NATO the official noted. However, the North begins this month. Exercise Trident forces—from fuel and munitions to Atlantic Council must still approve Juncture 2015, running through Nov. stocks—the official explained. Since any real-world mobilization of forces. 6 across locations in Italy, Portugal, the NRF is slated to be populated with Exercises will be made more realistic and Spain, marks a major test for the forces from multiple nations, the alli- to retain the credibility and effectiveness Spearhead Force. The exercise is NA- ance has decided it must “centralize” of these forces. According to two senior TO’s largest since the end of the Cold logistical support. “A fighting force NATO military officials briefing at the War, with more than 30,000 personnel does not function without this,” he said. June defense ministerial, NATO’s two taking part in validating the concepts strategic commands—Allied Command first explored in the Noble Jump event GETTING REAL Operations (ACO) and Allied Com- in June. While building logistical support mand Transformation (ACT)—have Noble Jump was “a brigade-sized for its energized rapid response forces, completed updating and refining an ex- unit,” one NATO military official said. NATO has revamped its political and ercise program that runs through 2020. “Here we have four [brigades’ worth] military decision-making to enable This year alone, some 300 events will being tested and exercised.” The live swift response to hybrid events or take place across the alliance—about a portion of the event, slated to start other rapidly evolving contingencies. third organized and led by NATO and later this month, will feature events In a crisis, the Supreme Allied Com- the rest conducted by NATO countries and scenarios testing ISR collection mander, Europe, now has the ability to offering compatible training events. The and analysis; surveillance and target “alert, stage, and prepare” forces. This expansion, one official said, is possible acquisition; and strategic communi- is a significant change: Previously, the in part due to NATO’s drawdown from cations and Air Force sustainment for the VJTF. German Maj. Gen. Erich G. Sieg- NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg speaks to the mann, chief of staff of Allied Air press after a Noble Jump training scenario. Command, said in a June interview that Trident Juncture will be a venue to validate alliance air operations in

NATO photo

32 AIR FORCE Magazine / October 2015 the context of the VJTF. In any rapid response scenario, NATO’s ability to quickly secure air superiority is para- mount, he said. Any NATO force could be challenged immediately if these skills are not fine-tuned, and Trident Juncture will feature training in some of these

tasks, such as conducting air defense Timmig Christian HFw by photo NATO and ISR in contested areas. An estimated 200 aircraft from NATO nations will participate in the event, he said. The exercise will include the new NATO joint force air component node at Poggio Renatico, Italy, part of the Air Command and Control System. Declared operational July 3, the Italy node will participate in Trident Juncture to validate its ability to command com- plex air operations across the alliance. Eventually, the ACCS network will A Polish air force MiG-29, RAF Typhoon, and USAF F-15 fly in formation during a comprise more than 20 control centers NATO air policing mission. covering more than 3.8 million square miles of airspace and will become a key tions like the US or UK to provide it analysis, to build a more robust cadre building block in NATO’s plan to build for the whole alliance, will make a of targeting experts. Targeting analysis a robust air and missile defense system. great difference in future operations, was identified as a key shortcoming by Though many activities related to the particularly Spearhead Force mobiliza- NATO “lessons learned” analysts after VJTF’s validation are ground-centric, tions, Klein said. 2011’s Libya air campaign. “We want to Siegmann said NATO will soon expand “Before you deploy, ... you want enhance the alliance’s ability to conduct training and exercising for alliance air to gather as much information as you joint ISR operations and share data,” capabilities as well. Trident Javelin, can,” he said. NATO ISR operations will a NATO official said. “This is done scheduled for 2017, is one such large be more able to conduct “fact-finding by enhancing training, improving our joint force exercise and will focus on missions” to verify evidence of rapidly procedures and doctrine, and upgrading alliance air operations. changing events, such as the movement network capability” to optimize the use NATO airpower is a key enabler for of troops or civil unrest. “If you can of valuable but limited assets such as better strategic warning, crucial to in- verify and monitor events, ... you will AWACS and AGS in future operations. form the alliance’s political process as it create the evidence and contain the Stoltenberg declared “significant chooses how to act against new threats. outbreak of crisis,” he asserted. The progress” is being made toward meet- To support this goal, NATO is pursu- powerful ground sensors of AGS will ing goals with NATO rapid reac- ing the Alliance Ground Surveillance complement NATO’s other organic ISR tion forces in time for the alliance’s program, eventually to involve five asset, its E-3 AWACS fleet, heavily Warsaw Summit next year. Obstacles Global Hawk remotely piloted aircraft. involved in monitoring NATO’s eastern remain, however, beyond the situation Members of the AGS test team began periphery since February 2014. in Ukraine that could affect the broad arriving at Naval Air Station Sigonella transformation push, most notably on Italy’s island of Sicily in July. Pilots INTEGRATION in funding. The US has earmarked are being trained in the US and main- Using both active and passive sensors, high-end enablers for the NRF and tainers are working with contractors for the AWACS fleet is proving a “highly VJTF—such as ISR assets, airlift, more “hands-on training” in operations, responsive” element of NATO’s reassur- special operations forces, and other said German air force Col. Uwe Klein, ance activities and will also serve a vital contributions—but the US is one of AGS implementation team leader at battle management role in supporting only five NATO allies that have met Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers VJTF operations, according to USAF the alliance goal of contributing two Europe in Belgium. Brig. Gen. Dawn M. Dunlop, NATO’s percent of gross domestic product to Initial operational capability for the AWACS fleet commander. Integrating defense. Those figures were confirmed AGS system is anticipated by the end of the two capabilities will take time, she by NATO officials just prior to the start 2018, he said. The aircraft—eventually noted, but as communications links with of the June defense ministerial. to have some form of support from all 28 air operations centers mature, the pair- “That’s good news; however, the nations of the alliance—address a criti- ing of the air and ground picture will picture is mixed,” one official stated, cal shortfall in NATO’s ISR capabili- give NATO commanders a perspective given that at least 10 NATO members ties. The wide area ground surveillance they didn’t always have before. “It’s have not even moved toward meeting aircraft not only provide strategic ISR, [about] understanding how these in- the self-imposed goal. Despite contin- but also can send information directly tegrate together and how they provide ued economic stresses across Europe to tactical commanders on the ground, information for commanders” for future putting pressure on defense spending Klein said. operations, she added. of many NATO members, “we need Having this capability within NATO, NATO is pushing to expand training to redouble our efforts to reverse this rather than having to ask member na- among its member nations in imagery trend,” he said. J AIR FORCE Magazine / October 2015 33