MONS, Belgium – Exercise Volfa 21, a major annual combat readiness exercise conducted by the French Air and Space Force, wrapped up in the southwest of France on Friday, Oct. 15, 2021.
NATO Allies and partners hold Air and Space Forces at appropriate levels of readiness to provide 24/7 vigilance across SACEUR's AOR
More than 50 aircraft from eight Allied nations participated covering the entire spectrum of flight operations with high preparation intensity: air superiority, commando infiltration, close air support to ground forces and ground to air defence. The objective was to build interoperability in a complex mission environment integrating multiple air assets, including fighters, transports, helicopters and drones.
"NATO Allies and partners hold Air and Space Forces at appropriate levels of readiness to provide 24/7 vigilance across SACEUR's AOR (Area of Responsibility). Effective coordination between AIRCOM and Allies provides NATO with the capability and capacity needed to respond effectively to threats to Alliance airspace, territory and citizens, " said Major General Phil Stewart, SHAPE Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategic Employment.
"Volfa 21 is a major exercise highlighting how allied and partner countries provide security to NATO members. It is a significant demonstration of the Allies collective commitment to safeguarding NATO airspace, and deterrence and defence," concluded Stewart.
This year pilots from France, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Spain, the United Kingdom, and Switzerland trained together in order to enhance their ability to conduct operations in a contested environment over a hostile terrain above Mont-de-Marsan, the Atlantic Ocean and in the Massif Central region of France.