Original Coverage & Source Attribution: ac.nato.int
“The Royal Air Force Air Command and Control (C2) Force has been central to the success of Cobra Warrior, integrating UK and international participants into a single coordinated air operation. Exercises such as this ensure Allied air forces can plan, operate and respond together in an increasingly complex security environment,” said Group Captain Chris Misiak, Commander Air C2 Force.
Cobra Warrior brought together a broad range of air power capabilities, including fighter aircraft, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance assets, air-to-air refuelling, air mobility and airborne command and control.
Participating aircraft included British Typhoon and F-35 Lightning fighters, P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft and Voyager air-to-air refuelling aircraft.
German and Italian Eurofighter Typhoons operated alongside United States Air Force F-15, F-16 and F-35 aircraft, supported by NATO E-3A Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft and KC-135 refuelling aircraft from US Air Force 100th Air Refuelling wing.
Cobra Warrior provided a demanding environment in which Allied aircrews, planners, controllers and support personnel could practise interoperability; where common procedures, coordinate complex missions and developing a shared understanding of how to operate in contested airspace are key elements.
“Cobra Warrior has confirmed itself as a first-class training exercise, offering an opportunity to test the capabilities of Air Forces, the integration between assets, and the level of standardization required to operate effectively with allied nations in modern scenarios,” said Maggiore Valerio C, Italian Detachment Commander.
Beyond the aircraft operating in the skies, Cobra Warrior tested the systems and personnel required to sustain air operations. Cyber capabilities, force protection, logistics, medical support and command and control all contributed to the exercise, reinforcing the credibility of the Alliance’s deterrence and defence posture.
Exercises like these also support NATO’s new Air Defence framework, which establishes common rules, procedures and command and control to enable a coordinated response to airborne threats, from drones to military aircraft. The framework gives Allied commanders greater flexibility to integrate and employ forces provided by Allies across Supreme Allied Commander Europe’s (SACEUR) Area of Responsibility, strengthening the Alliance’s ability to defend its airspace and protect Allied populations.
