COMMANDER OF NATO MARITIME COMMAND VISITS STANDING NATO MINE COUNTERMEASURES GROUP 1
The Commander of NATO Maritime Command, Vice Admiral Keith Blount, visited the Belgian flagship, BNS Godetia, of Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group One (SNMCMG1) last Tuesday.
This visit comes shortly before SNMCMG1 begins a pre-planned deployment to the North and Baltic Seas. The Group will undertake a range of activities, notably Historic Ordinance Disposal Operations, making waterways safe for shipping via the disposal of explosive relics left over from the World Wars.
Vice Admiral Keith Blount given a traditional welcome aboard SNMCMG1 flagship BNS Godetia. Photo credit SNMCMG1
NATO PERSONNEL CONDUCT VIRTUAL TRAINING WITH UKRAINE’S ARMED FORCES
This week, a team from NATO’s Allied Air Command delivered Joint Terminal Attack Controller training to members of the Ukrainian Armed Forces via a virtual meeting hosted from the Allied Air Command Headquarters. The training objective was to share expertise and experience with 15 members of the Ukrainian Armed Forces on tactics, techniques, and procedures for tactical-level close air support.
Training with Partnership for Peace (PfP) nations allows NATO and its partners to maintain high standards of interoperability and efficacy on operations.
UKR JTAC training in session with Brigadier General Ertunç Ertufanli. Photo credit AIRCOM
GENERAL JÖRG VOLLMER VISITS SLOVAKIA
Commander Allied Joint Force Command Brunssum, General Jörg Vollmer, visited Slovakia 21 January to meet with Slovakian Minister of Defence and Chief of Defence - Jaroslav Nad and General Daniel Zmeko.
Whilst visiting the Slovak Republic General Vollmer also visited the NATO Force Integration Unit Slovakia, one of the NATO units in the area that specialises in rapid deployment and interoperability, ensuring NATO and Slovakian forces are able to work together seamlessly in a crisis response role.
Gen Vollmer in discussion with Slovak Minister of Defence Jaroslav Nad. Photo credit JFCBS
THE NETHERLANDS DECLARES READINESS TO LAUNCH FIRST MILITARY
NANOSATELLITE
The Dutch Ministry of Defence takes its initial steps into the Space domain
with the planned launch of the first Dutch nanosatellite into orbit in
mid-March, known as BRIK-II.
Modern societies have come to utilize satellite technology more than ever
in daily life. This technology is especially valuable in communications and
geolocation devices.
This preliminary step in to space from the Dutch Royal Netherlands Air
Force (RNAF) has a namesake in ‘the BRIK’, the first RNAF aircraft to be used
operationally, in 1913.
The BRIK II nanosatellite. Photo credit Royal Netherlands Air Force