MONS, Belgium – NATO Joint Terminal Air Controllers (JTAC) recently honed their skills during exercise Vanguard Merlin at Cudgel Range, Lithuania alongside US B-52 Stratofortress bombers and German and Italian Eurofighters.
During the exercise Lithuanian, Czechian, Swedish, and Norwegian JTACs coordinated with the B-52 and the Eurofighters to call in live airstrikes as part of a dynamic tactical scenario to weaken the enemy, disrupt their progress, and create favourable conditions for a counterattack by the friendly forces.
Regular joint training with Allied forces ensures JTACs maintain peak readiness
These exercises advance NATO's ability to combine force elements with our Allies and Partners, increase our readiness, and demonstrate our shared commitment to defending the alliance.
“Regular joint training with Allied forces ensures JTACs maintain peak readiness and sharpens the advanced skill sets required for seamless interoperability across nations and services. This level of interoperability is critical for responding decisively to emerging threats and achieving mission success on the battlefield,” said the lead Lithuanian JTAC spokesperson.
JTACs are critical to the management of the battlefield environment and airspace: their role is to direct airstrikes from any kind of aircraft - bombers, fighter jets, helicopters, or drones – integrating them with the manoeuver of ground forces to ensure devastating effects to the enemy through pinpoint accuracy.
Highly trained to internationally recognized standards, they are the perfect example of the ability of NATO partners to work together in the most challenging circumstances. As proactive and adaptable problem-solvers, JTACs must possess strong spatial awareness, effective communication, and the ability to make sound decisions under pressure — seamlessly integrating into complex, international environments.
NATO Joint Terminal Air Controllers hone their skills during exercise Vanguard Merlin at Cudgel Range, Lithuania alongside US B-52 Stratofortress bombers and German and Italian Eurofighters - NATO Photos by SHAPE Public Affairs Office