UK SOLDIERS TRAIN IN ESTONIA IN FREEZING TEMPERATURES
UK troops from the 5 RIFLES Infantry Battalion are serving in NATO’s enhanced Forward Presence (eFP) Battlegroup, in Estonia. NATO forces need to be ready to operate in any environment and any weather conditions. Troops trained in deep snow and icy conditions during exercise Winter Camp. UK troops also took part in a three-day cold weather operations course, learning how to build shelters and survive in extreme cold weather conditions.
ALLIED AND PARTNER AIR FORCES PRACTICE AIR POLICING SCENARIOS OVER BALTIC SEA
20-21 April, Allied and Partner Air Forces conducted the first iteration of joint Air Policing Drills over the Baltic Sea to enhance Alliance cohesion and interoperability, hosted by Latvia. The aim of Exercise Ramstein Alloy 20-21 is to sharpen skills used in Baltic Air Policing (BAP) efforts. It is crucial to consistently drill and practice procedures and coordination processes among Allies and Partners. Participating nations included: Estonia, Germany, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland; and partners, Finland and Sweden.
NATO JETS INTERCEPT RUSSIAN MILITARY AIRCRAFT OVER BALTIC SEA
On 20 April, NATO scrambled fighter jets from Estonia, Lithuania, and Poland to intercept Russian fighters, bombers, and surveillance aircraft over the Baltic Sea. As NATO radars tracked unidentified aircraft over the Baltic Sea, NATO’s Combined Air Operations Centre (CAOC) at Uedem, Germany, launched allied fighter aircraft. The event serves to demonstrate NATO’s sustained vigilance and responsiveness to air incidents and the collective effort of Allies to keep the airspace safe for everyone.