Mar 12 2026

NCIA supports allied readiness during exercise Loyal Leda 26

From 3 to 12 March 2026, exercise Loyal Leda 26 took place across nine Allied territories, training four NATO land corps headquarters in combat readiness.

Loyal Leda is a computer-assisted command post exercise focused on an Article 5 scenario, training and evaluating the ability of NATO Corps-level headquarters to plan and coordinate large-scale operations in realistic environments across multiple domains. This joint exercise was sponsored by Allied Land Command in Izmir, Türkiye, and facilitated by NATO’s Joint Force Training Centre (JFTC) in Bydgoszcz, Poland.

NCIA supports allied readiness during exercise Loyal Leda 26

Experts from the NATO Communications and Information Agency (NCIA) supported the exercise by providing on-site support throughout the execution period. The team ensured that networks and communication systems worked reliably during the 24/7 training. NCIA technicians also delivered training on the SitaWare Headquarters software, deployed during the exercise, to facilitate tactical communication and interoperability, collaborative planning and situational awareness, enabling a shared understanding of the battlefield.

“Loyal Leda 26 represents a significant evolution in the way the Alliance trains and prepares for collective defence,” stated Warrant Officer Alexandre Lapeyre, NCIA Exercise planner. “For the first time, the exercise is synchronized with NATO Allied Air Command’s activities, and expands the scope of training from a single corps to four, strengthening multi-domain coordination, interoperability, and our ability to operate effectively across the NATO command structure.”

As NATO prioritizes land force transformation in 2026, Loyal Leda represents a pivotal opportunity for corps headquarters to demonstrate warfighting readiness and the ability to lead NATO’s land forces at the tactical level while adapting and integrating new capabilities and technologies. NCIA plays a crucial role enabling forces to communicate effectively and operate together during operations with technology and tools, bolstering NATO’s and Allied land forces’ readiness posture.

Photos sourced from NATO Rapid Deployable Corps, Spain Headquarters, and NATO Allied Land Command.