This large-scale tactical level air domain exercise strengthens NATO’s deterrence and collective defence by training AIRCOM’s ability to respond rapidly to an Article 5 scenario and cohesively defend every inch of NATO airspace. More than 200 aircraft are conducting approximately 150 flight missions per day from over 20 operational locations, demonstrating NATO’s ability to operate as a unified force across the Euro-Atlantic area.
Behind the flight operations, NCIA provides the secure communication and information systems (CIS), network defence and cyber security frameworks. This work enables the secure and real-time exchange of data, from aircraft flying above heads to NATO command centres on the ground.
Before the exercise, NCIA’s network specialists deploy and configure the core communications infrastructure, supporting network interoperability. This work allows national and NATO systems to connect into a single federated mission network, enabling information sharing between headquarters, deployed forces, and partner nations. Throughout execution, NCIA maintains and monitors the operational environment to ensure communications remain secure, resilient, and available around the clock.
Across the main locations in northern Europe, NCIA is supporting NATO’s most recent Allies Finland and Sweden, by extending connectivity to deliver the secure network, and installing systems to support the air picture from deployed locations, respectively.
In Sweden, NCIA worked closely with the Swedish Air Force, AIRCOM and the Deployable Air Control Centre Recognised Air Picture Production Centre Sensor Fusion Post (DARS) from the Deployable Air Command and Control Centre (DACCC) to deploy Air Command and Control (AirC2) capabilities at Kallax Air Base. By integrating sensors, tactical data links, and operational databases through secure CIS infrastructure, NCIA enabled Commanders to maintain a coherent Common Operational Picture and coordinate air operations across geographically dispersed locations.
“Ramstein Flag 26 demonstrates NATO's ability to deploy, integrate, and operate AirC2 capabilities across a distributed environment,” explains Volkan Beyazgun, Solution Engineer, NCIA AirC2 Centre. “The deployment at Kallax, Sweden was the result of months of preparation led by the NCIA AirC2 Centre, including attending planning conferences, defining the operational scope, conducting laboratory testing, and executing deployment activities in close coordination with AIRCOM, DACCC, and the Swedish Air Force.”
The scale of this exercise demonstrates NATO's determination to counter modern and emerging threats through distributed operations. By installing, configuring, testing, and sustaining the network infrastructure, NCIA enables Allied nations to communicate and fly as one united NATO force, bolstering collective defence and air domain readiness.