MONS, Belgium - NATO’s missile firing range in Crete, known as the NATO Missile Firing Installation (NAMFI), marked its 60th anniversary in September with a ceremony attended by high-ranking officials from both NATO and non-NATO countries.
Established in 1964, NAMFI has become a key location for live-fire exercises and integrated air defence training, offering an essential opportunity for NATO member states and partners to optimize their air defence systems.
The installation was created following a 1964 agreement among eight NATO countries—Belgium, France, West Germany, Denmark, Greece, Norway, the Netherlands, and the United States—after recognizing the need for a European site to train ground-based air defence forces. The facility, located near Chania on the island of Crete, was chosen due to its strategic position and existing military infrastructure. In its early years, NAMFI supported training with systems such as the NIKE and HAWK air defence missiles.
"NAMFI allows us to safely and effectively train for the engagement of aerial targets in realistic conditions,” said Colonel Arnt Kuebart, Ground Capabilities Commander of the German Air Force. Kuebart also stressed the importance of integrated air defence within NATO’s overall mission, adding that more than 200 successful live-fire evaluations had been conducted at the range since 1996, following guidelines from Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE).
NAMFI allows us to safely and effectively train for the engagement of aerial targets in realistic conditions
Lieutenant Colonel Rob Olthoff of the Dutch Army highlighted the benefits of multinational cooperation at NAMFI. “We see that our systems work when we train together with other nations,” he said, noting the importance of interoperability among NATO allies and partners in the face of rising threats across Europe.
NATO’s air defence forces, along with ground and naval units, regularly use NAMFI for joint training exercises. This includes practicing the rapid deployment and operational readiness of air defence systems, with real-time integration between different service branches and nations. The location in the eastern Mediterranean has been praised for its suitability in these complex, large-scale training exercises.
NAMFI’s unique capabilities are also valuable for testing and developing new systems, such as those under the European Sky Shield Initiative (ESSI), which aims to enhance Europe’s defence against all types of aerial threats. ESSI involves both NATO and non-NATO members, fostering multinational collaboration in the procurement and use of standardised weapon systems.
Lieutenant General Lutz Kohlhaus, Deputy Chief of the German Air Force, emphasised that increased participation from NATO and ESSI members at NAMFI would reduce training costs and boost operational effectiveness. “We invite all ESSI nations to NAMFI to witness its quality and take part in the exercises,” he said.
The future of NAMFI includes plans for the German Air Force to test its new IRIS-T SLM air defence missile system at the range in 2025, further cementing the installation’s role as a critical hub for advancing NATO’s integrated air defence capabilities.
NATO’s missile firing range in Crete, known as the NATO Missile Firing Installation (NAMFI), marked its 60th anniversary on Sept 26, 2024, with a ceremony attended by high-ranking officials from both NATO and non-NATO countries. - NATO Photos by NATO Missile Firing Installation