European Air Group Annual Report 2019 CIS & Cyber Air Ops Force Protection Logs & Support European Air Group - Solutions for Interoperability www.euroairgroup.org 1 4 18 20 Contents Foreword 1 The EAG – Seven Air Forces that are able to operate as one across 3 the spectrum of conflict Building a common vision – what do we have to train for? 4 Military training airspace in the Single European Sky – 6 taking a multinational view 4th-5th Generation Interoperability – a holistic approach 8 Turning the spotlight on RED AIR 10 5th Generation – possible collaborative opportunities? 12 ‘The times they are a changing’ 14 The Interoperable MALE RPAS ISR Training (IMRIT) – innovative, 16 low cost, multinational Networked Synthetic Training Striking in a highly contested environment – the Air Launched Cruise 18 Missile Project EAG Aviation Medicine – developing a new way to collaborate 20 8 14 32 38 Fuel – a shared resource 22 Interoperability in Force Protection – as relevant as ever! 24 Gaining a better insight … Force Protection Seminar 26 Force Protection training – permanent effort to 28 bolster cohesion How CIS impacts the OODA Loop 30 EAG Cyber – building on national Cyber defence to support 32 multinational cooperation Improving communication and encouraging collaboration 34 through a digital workspace Technical Arrangements – at the heart of doing business 36 Agreeing Strategies – the seven Air Chiefs meet in Bruges to 38 steer the EAG into the future EAG Project Activities for 2019 39 1 European Air Group Foreword ince 31st of October 2018, I have been Sappointed Chief of Staff of the Italian Air Force, taking over also the duty of the EAG Director. After few months in the job, I would like to take this opportunity to share with all of you my motivation to be part of this Organization and my belief in its value. At the same time, I would take this opportunity to thank my predecessor, General Enzo Vecciarelli, for the brilliant results achieved during his timeframe and the seamless daily work sustained, which I am willing to take over with the desire to promote continuity and coherence. It is my intent to proceed along the same path, based on an evolutionary approach and perspective that takes into account the current and future trends, scenarios, needs and opportunities, always in a pragmatic way. I am fully convinced that the EAG represents the ideal forum where the seven Air Forces have the chance to effectively discuss and elaborate on Generale di Squadra Aerea Alberto Rosso different and challenging matters concerning the Director EAG development of many evolving areas and domains, through the wide spectrum of present and future capabilities, enhancing the overall interoperability among all of them. Our Air Forces are always facing new and growing challenges flowing in a multi- faceted environment characterized by multi-domain contexts and fast rising technology, where the speed of change is a new factor to consider while moving towards a better quality output tailored to our operational goals. Therefore, I am convinced that in order to face the new emerging challenges coming from a complex and evolving scenario, our enhanced and growing cooperation between friends and allies is fundamental. It also needs stronger synergies and full interoperability in order to multiply the effects of different/complementary capabilities, and to face the full spectrum of any potential conflicts and threats. To that end, I consider the integration of 5th Generation platforms within our capability basket as a “must” and a unique opportunity to realize, together, concrete synergies with an inclusive approach and perspective. In this respect, our personnel play a fundamental part and we need to establish the proper mind set. 1 Annual Report 2019 The future challenges we are going to face will demonstrate the benefit that comes from strong increasingly demand a different approach based cooperation and a common will. on new forms of training and procedures, to exploit skills and expertise in order to successfully operate Increasingly, this work not only involves the EAG in different sectors such as logistics, maintenance, Nations, but also encompasses the collaboration supplies and infrastructures. It is therefore necessary and contribution of other partners and to focus on personal motivation and professional multinational Organizations. This diversity in the abilities, considering these aspects as an integral part EAG’s network demonstrates its ability to generate of the whole capability that a system of whatever initiatives, projects and outputs that can positively generation demands and implies. reflect well beyond the boundaries of its members and across a wider European and allied footprint. I believe this is also the vision inspiring the Combined Air Interoperability Program (CAIP) initiative, which My wish for all of us is to continue along this path, will remain valuable and successful only if the cooperating and promoting our common values, management of its projects will continue to be together, in order to ensure security and prosperity modular and gradually implemented, in order with the same cohesion, sharing responsibilities and to pursue objectives and solutions of common burdens for the future. interest that are fully achievable and sustainable, not necessarily in the short term. Looking forward to working with you all! The interoperability between 4th and 5th Generation air systems, embraced by the CAIP, is just one part of a broader EAG portfolio divided across four main areas: Air Operations, Force Protection, Logistics and CIS/Cyber. More than twenty projects and activities are underway in these domains to improve collaboration between the EAG Air Forces. Generale di Squadra Aerea Alberto Rosso Prominent examples of the EAG’s current work Chief of Staff of the Italian Air Force include the interoperable MALE RPAS ISR Training Director EAG Project, which, in cooperation with the European Defence Agency, has introduced an innovative multinational simulator network for RPAS crews across ten countries. New processes for Command- and-Control of Force Protection operations are being developed in cooperation with the Joint Air Power Competence Centre. A new handbook for air launched cruise missile operations is being built up in collaboration with USAFE and, in addition, seminars and information exchanges are taking place between the EAG Nations and other partner Organizations concerning Counter UAS, CIS, Cyber and other subjects. The Advanced Aviation Medicine Course recently graduated its 100th student while a new Forward Arming and Refueling Point training syllabus has already been introduced. In the following annual report, you will find an updated overview of these and other projects that are being implemented across the respective domains by the EAG and its partners, which clearly 2 European Air Group The EAG - Seven Air Forces that are able to operate as one across the spectrum of conflict he origins of the EAG can be traced back to allied military air operations in the Gulf War in 1991 and afterwards in Tthe former Yugoslavia and Bosnia-Herzegovina. The experiences gained from these events and others resulted in efforts to improve interoperability that led to the formation of the Franco-British European Air Group in 1995. From the start, the word ‘European’ was included in the endeavour with the aim of encouraging more allies to join and by 1999 the Franco-British initiative had been transformed into the European Air Group – the ‘EAG’. Today, the EAG is an independent collaboration of seven Air Force, who also Chairs the SG Annual Meeting, the top- Member nations – Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, the level body that review the EAG’s activities and provides Netherlands, Spain and the United Kingdom - whose direction for future work. aim is to improve interoperability between the Member Air Forces under the umbrella of an Inter-Governmental A multinational Permanent Staff (EAG PS) of 30 personnel, Agreement. The EAG aims to improve interoperability established at RAF High Wycombe in the United Kingdom within a short timescale, at the tactical and operational is responsible for the execution and coordination of EAG levels. It does so by initiating and implementing projects activities. The EAG PS operates under the direction and with outputs such as Technical Arrangements that guidance of the Deputy Director EAG (DD EAG) Brigadier provide a legal framework for cooperation, new common General Stefan Scheibl (German Air Force) and is managed operating procedures, exercises to test and develop by the Chief of Staff (COS EAG) Colonel Hervé Lahille procedures, and courses, seminars, workshops and (French Air Force). other forums. Supplementing the SG, the EAG Working Group Examples of EAG outputs are, inter alia, the 4th-5th meets twice each year to agree how projects should Generation Combined Air Interoperability Programme be implemented and to provide national positions. (CAIP), the Air Launched Cruise Missile Project, an annual Additionally, each nation has appointed a Point of Contact VOLCANEX Force Protection exercise series, a new training at 1* level to support the EAG activities. The 1* POC Forum syllabus and procedures for deployed helicopter refuelling meets annually and although it is not currently a formal sites, a new networked training capability for MALE RPAS part of EAG governance, it makes recommendations and operators, and the Advanced Aviation Medicine Course. provides guidance. The EAG also laid the foundations