Atlantic Trident is a trilateral air exercise series jointly conducted by France, the United Kingdom and the United States. This year’s iteration marks the first time the exercise has taken place in Finland. The Exercise aims to further develop ACE tactics, techniques and procedures, as well as aircraft cross-servicing and integration among 4th and 5th generation fighter jets.
Along with the Finnish F/A-18 Hornet fighter jets, other participating air assets include an E-3F AWACS aircraft, Rafale jets, an A400M transport aircraft, and an A330 MRTT tanker from France, Royal Air Force Typhoons and U.S. F-35A Lightning II, F-15E Strike Eagle jets and KC-135 Stratotanker aerial refuelling aircraft. The exercise will also involve NH90 helicopters and ground-based air defence units from the Finnish Army, as well as aircraft from Draken International, providing adversary air services. In total, the exercise involves more than 40 aircraft and approximately 1,000 personnel.
“Finland is a part of NATO’s network of air bases, so we must be prepared to receive Allied reinforcements. We are at the forefront within NATO when it comes to Agile Combat Employment, but close integration with Allies is still relatively new to us,” said Colonel Vesa Mäntylä, Exercise Director and Deputy Chief of Staff, Air Force Command Finland. “Reception of Allied forces requires robust planning, coordination, and leadership. In the Atlantic Trident 25 exercise, our Allies ‒ the United States, the United Kingdom, and France ‒ will deploy significant capabilities to Finland. We will train air operations and C2 together, thereby also strengthening NATO’s collective defence and deterrence,” he added.
In addition to 4th and 5th generation fighter integration, the exercise will also focus on training aircraft cross-servicing capabilities, with technicians working to service another Nation’s fighter jets. Participants will also hone their airfield damage repair (ADR) procedures, whereby enabling the rapid repair of an air base, following potential enemy strike, in order to restore normal operations.
The ACE concept is a true force multiplier for NATO’s Air Forces, and Allies are increasingly embracing this operational scheme of manoeuvre, designed to increase resiliency while generating combat power from home bases as well as geographically dispersed locations. Key elements of an ACE are agility, interoperability, survivability, continuity of operations and operational readiness.
