In this episode, we cover six developments across NATO’s air and multi-domain activity — a snapshot of an Alliance modernising its command-and-control backbone, sharpening readiness on the eastern flank, and accelerating fifth-generation interoperability across Europe. We begin at Ramstein Air Base for a milestone in fifth-generation sustainment and Allied integration: a cross-servicing weapons load on a U.S. Air Force F-35A conducted by Royal Netherlands Air and Space Force weapons specialists during the European Air Chiefs Group meeting. Marking the first weapons load by non-American Allied maintainers on a U.S. F-35A, the event demonstrated practical interoperability — including shared safety procedures, data, and equipment compatibility — and reinforced NATO’s ability to sustain distributed fifth-generation operations across Allied bases. Next, we shift to the inauguration of Lotto 4 at NATO’s Deployable Air Command and Control Centre (DACCC). The new operational structure represents a major step forward for NATO’s Air Command and Control architecture, combining a modern operations room and an innovation-focused Battle Lab designed to support high-intensity operations, resilience under pressure, and deeper multi-domain integration. The next story we look at is on NATO’s eastern flank, as German Air Force Eurofighters deploy to Malbork, Poland, to assume NATO’s Air Policing mission. With five aircraft and roughly 150 personnel from Tactical Air Wing 31 “Boelcke,” the detachment reinforces NATO’s 24/7 Quick Reaction Alert posture, operating in coordination with the Polish Air Force and under the direction of NATO’s Combined Air Operations Centre in Uedem. The mission also highlights Germany’s ability to sustain concurrent Air Policing deployments, alongside its ongoing contribution in Romania. From there, we move south to Italy for Exercise Poggio Dart 25, hosted by the Italian Air Force and led by the DACCC at Poggio Renatico. With more than thirty assets employed across live and virtual training, the exercise strengthened NATO’s Integrated Air and Missile Defence readiness and tested interoperability across Allied and national systems. Deployable radar and control-and-reporting elements — paired with AWACS support — demonstrated NATO’s ability to coordinate complex operations in a multi-domain environment without reliance on fixed infrastructure. Staying in Italy, we then examine the Italian Air Force special operations exercise Artiglio 2025, which integrated Special Forces with fourth- and fifth-generation air assets to operationalise NATO’s Agile Combat Employment concept and counter anti-access and area-denial threats. The exercise simulated austere operations from an advanced operating node, combining special reconnaissance and direct action with close air support, air interdiction support, and the controlled insertion and rapid regeneration of F-35A operations through a forward arming and refuelling point and “hot refuelling.” Finally, in Poland, Allied Air Command led a NATO Find, Fix, Track, and Target (F2T2) training event involving forces from six nations: Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Conducted in support of NATO’s enhanced Vigilance Activity, Eastern Sentry, the mission tested multi-domain integration across air and land elements, including AWACS command-and-control, fighter operations, refuelling support, and ground-based coordination. The exercise highlighted Eastern Sentry’s flexible deterrence posture and NATO’s ability to synchronise sensors and shooters rapidly in contested environments. Together, these six stories illustrate a NATO Alliance investing in modern command and control, reinforcing airspace security on the eastern flank, and pushing interoperability into real-world, fifth-generation execution — ensuring Allied Airpower remains ready, resilient, and integrated across the Euro-Atlantic region. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit natoaircom.substack.com
