Mar 20 2023

Exercise Steadfast Cobalt 2023

STEADFAST COBALT 2023 is NATO’s largest Communications and Information System (CIS) exercise which will be conducted by the NATO CIS Group (NCISG) from March 20 to May 5, 2023, to kick start NATO Response Force (NRF) preparation activities.

STEADFAST COBALT 2023 will validate CIS connectivity and interoperability among participating NRF units through data exchanges and sustained communication among joint and component headquarters and combat units of the NRF worldwide.

The aim is to improve readiness and increase speed by ensuring that all contributing units are ready and prepared to deploy CIS in support of NRF Missions.

“STEADFAST COBALT 2023 improves readiness and increases speed by ensuring that all contributing units are ready and prepared to deploy CIS in support of NRF Missions as well as on land, in the air and at sea, whose presence and activities assure Alliance members and deter potential adversaries,” said Commander NCISG Major General Frank Schlösser.

Background information

The main body of STEADFAST COBALT 2023 includes the NRF2024 units from France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, and United Kingdom. In addition, Allied countries as Belgium, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxemburg, Romania, Slovakia, Sweden, and United-States will participate. Partners as Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Jordan, Sweden, Switzerland Tunisia, and Ukraine will serve as observers. This year, 15 NATO Command Structure and 14 NATO Force Structure units will participate involving an estimated 1000 persons including both military and civilian.

Through STEADFAST COBALT 2023, NATO Allies’ remain united with a strong commitment and ability to defend the Alliance. This CIS exercise will enable interoperability, skills and capabilities required to combat increasingly complex security threats.

For further information, please contact the Public Affairs Officer at Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE), Belgium, Tel +32 6544 4502, E-mail shape.mediaops@shape.nato.int.