09 Sep 24. The second phase of the Baltics region Joint Forcible Entry by US and UK troops on NATO Exercise SWIFT RESPONSE 24 involved a Rapid Air Land, reports Bob Morrison.
Mid-May 2024: Following a 22-hour delay to the initial SWIFT RESPONSE 24 (SR24) parachute insertion at Nurmsi drop zone, about one hour by road southeast of Estonian capital Tallinn, which on peacetime safety grounds had to be postponed because of severe weather, RAF and USAF transport aircraft conducted a Rapid Air Land operation at the former Cold War era airbase on the Baltic Coast near Kiltsi. After photographing the delayed UK and US parachute drop at Nurmsi on the Saturday morning, I drove two hours westward to Kiltsi to watch and photograph the RAL; which originally had been scheduled to commence at first light on this the second day but was now taking place near simultaneously with the paradrop as and when aircraft became available. The early morning parachute drop at Nurmsi was conducted from three US Air Force C-17 Globemaster transport aircraft, which then joined Royal Air Force C-17A Globemaster and A400M Atlas aircraft for the Rapid Air Land at Kiltsi. By the time I had travelled almost 200km on mostly back roads across Estonia to Kiltsi the RAL was well underway, with WMIK Land Rovers, Jackals and Foxhounds already delivered to secure the airfield and support the first waves of Airborne (3 PARA) and Light Recce Strike Infantry (1 R IRISH) which had fought off the defenders and occupied the base. (Source: joint-forces.com)
09 Sep 24. Allied paratroopers jumped into five NATO countries and Moldova as part of the SWIFT RESPONSE 2024 airborne operation in Europe. In the largest airborne operation since the Second World War, paratroopers from France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Romania and Spain [plus UK and UK] jumped into Estonia, Moldova, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Sweden as part of Exercise SWIFT RESPONSE, proving their ability to conduct complex operations with short notice.
Airborne operations require precise timing, and consummate skill from pilots and paratroopers alike. Their ability to insert hundreds of soldiers behind enemy lines makes them a strategic asset to NATO Allies. Because of the inherent difficulty in these missions, frequent practice is required to maintain skills.
That is why the United States leads SWIFT RESPONSE, a yearly airborne exercise that brings Allies together to drop paratroopers throughout Europe. Conducting these drills together helps Allies familiarise themselves with each other’s practices, improving their ability to work together in the event of a crisis. This NATO Multimedia footage, shot near Gothenburg in Sweden and Cluj-Napoca in Romania in May, was published on Friday 06 September and circulated today. (Source: joint-forces.com)
16 Sept 24. 14 Ukrainian pilots begin F-16 training in Romania in defence coalition effort. Netherlands has announced that the first cohort of Ukrainian F-16 pilots have begun training in Romania.
Formation of F-16s in delta formations over the North Sea. Image courtesy of Netherlands MoD.
Some 14 out of 18 F-16 fighter jets, provided by the Netherlands, are now in use at a European training centre in Romania, where the first group of Ukrainian pilots has commenced their theoretical training.
The pilots are being trained at Fetesti Air Base, a facility established under a coalition led by the Netherlands, Denmark, and the United States to bolster Ukraine’s air defence capabilities.
The Netherlands Ministry of Defence has confirmed that practical lessons for the Ukrainian pilots are expected to begin by the end of the year in a release from 13 September 2024. The F-16 coalition aims to enable these pilots to defend Ukraine against ongoing Russian attacks using the fighter jets, marking a significant step in strengthening Ukraine’s military.
The Ukrainian Air Force is sending experienced MiG-29 pilots to participate in the training The conversion programme for the F-16 is designed to be swift but thorough, providing both initial flight training and advanced operational skills.
Dutch Defence Minister Ruben Brekelmans expressed optimism about the progress. “It’s a great step forward that the first Ukrainian pilots have begun their training. The European F-16 training centre will provide them with a solid foundation to defend their country against Russia’s relentless aggression.”
This initiative forms part of a broader international effort to support Ukraine’s air defences. The Netherlands, Denmark, and the US are at the forefront of both the training programme and the provision of F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine. In addition to the 18 jets supplied for training, the Netherlands has pledged to deliver 24 aircraft to aid Ukraine in its fight against Russian forces. Due to operational security, details surrounding these deliveries remain limited.
The establishment of the F-16 training programme has been months in the making. In June 2023, Dutch Defence Minister Kajsa Ollongren announced the training programme, initially targeting a summer start. While the timeline for full operational capability was uncertain, she and other defence officials remained committed to fast-tracking the project.
A Netherlands MoD release from 15 June 2023 outlined the key components, including the provision of a swift conversion course for Ukrainian pilots to operate the F-16, basic or “initial” flight training, and creating a final destination for F-16 training in an Eastern European Nato member state, likely referring to Fetesti Air Base in Romania where the current trading is being undertaken.
Upon the announcement in the Summer 2023, General Mark Milley, Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, cautioned that it will take considerable time to build a Ukrainian air force capable of competing with Russia’s advanced aircraft, adding that the training was essential step toward fortifying Ukraine’s defences. (Source: airforce-technology.com)