The high-level visitors from the United States, Turkey, Germany, Norway, and Italy as well as PfP member Finland arrived at Norrbotten Wing F21 at 9:30 and were first given a guided tour of the local air base museum including a briefing about the wing’s history.
Then the Senior National Representatives of the air forces participating in the exercise joined up and the group was welcomed by the Exercise Director Brigadier General Gianni Baron from the Italian Air Force and the Exercise Co-Director, Brigadier General Johan Svensson, Swedish Air Force.
Colonel Christopher Weggeman of US Air Force, director of the Joint Force Air Component, JFAC, which is trained for NATO Response Force tasks during Loyal Arrow, presented details of the JFAC Forward Head Ouarters and the exercise to the visitors.
After a lunch hosted by Norrbotten Wing Commander, Colonel Per Nilsson, the group was taken on a base tour during which the high-level visitors had an opportunity to meet exercise key personnel and national detachment commanders before the programme of the day ended.
Loyal Arrow involves fighter and transport aircraft as well as rotary wing aircraft from NATO nations Germany, Italy, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States of America and the Partnership for Peace members Sweden and Finland. Participants conduct air operations in the skies above the Nordkalotten area under a fictitious peace-enforcing scenario.
More than fifty aircraft participate in the exercise and several detachments also prepare for the upcoming NATO Response Force 13 stand-by period. NATO’s Ramstein-based Air Component Command will be charged with providing command and control for a multinational air component during NATO Response Force 13.
Until 16 June participating aircraft will have ample opportunity to train together to enhance interoperability of NATO and PfP air forces.