Aircraft from every flying wing in U.S. Air Forces in Europe kicked off Astral Knight 23-6 late last week, the latest in a series of exercises across the continent focused on Agile Combat Employment.
F-16s, F-35s, KC-135s, and a C-130J are all flying in the exercise from forward operating bases in Finland and Lithuania, according to a USAFE release. From there, Airmen will participate in operations in the Arctic and Baltics, focusing on “proactive and reactive asset movements.”
The following wings are involved in the exercise:
- 48th Fighter Wing, RAF Lakenheath, U.K.
- 31st Fighter Wing, Aviano Air Base, Italy
- 52nd Fighter Wing, Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany
- 100th Air Refueling Wing, RAF Mildenhall, U.K.
- 86th Airlift Wing, Ramstein Air Base, Germany
- 435th Air Ground Operations Wing, Ramstein Air Base, Germany
At Rovaniemi Air Base, Finland, there are:
- F-16s from Spangdahlem
- a C-130J from Ramstein
- a KC-135 from Mildenhall
- F/A-18s from the Finnish Air Force
At Šiauliai Air Base, Lithuania, there are:
- F-35s from Lakenheath
- F-16s from Aviano
- a KC-135 from Mildenhall
According to U.S. European Command, forces from Sweden and Latvia will participate as well. The exercise is scheduled to run from Aug. 18-31.
Agile Combat Employment is the Air Force’s operating concept in which Airmen and aircraft disperse from large central bases and operate from smaller, more austere locations in a “hub-and-spoke” manner to complicate an adversary’s targeting.
The concept, which first emerged in the Indo-Pacific, has quickly become a central tenet of Chief of Staff Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr.’s vision for the service, and USAFE commander Gen. James B. Hecker recently cited it as one of his top priorities for implementing in the region.
Dating back to the end of the Cold War, allied countries used to have a well-practiced ability to service and even re-arm any NATO aircraft that landed at a NATO base, but that capability has “atrophied,” Hecker said in a recent meeting with reporters.
“We are working to get that back,” Hecker said. To do it, NATO will provision “20-25 bases … in strategic locations around Europe” with the means to support a wide variety of allied aircraft. He declined to specify which bases.
The U.S. Air Force has operated from Šiauliai in Lithuania relatively frequently and poured resources into the base as part of the European Deterrence Initiative. In 2020, officials noted that the U.S. had invested more than $27 million in 18 separate projects at Šiauliai over the last several years. More recently, F-15Es and F-35s operated from there in 2022 as part of the NATO air policing mission.
U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon pilots 1st Lt. Ryan Watkins (left) and Capt. Quincy Watts, assigned to the 510th Fighter Squadron out of Aviano Air Base, Italy, walk to their jets at Šiauliai Air Base, Lithuania, on Aug. 22, 2023, during the Astral Knight 23 Part 6 exercise. Agile Combat Employment exercises and deployments like AK23-6 ensure forces in Europe are ready to protect and defend Allies, Partners and U.S. interests at a moment’s notice, and generate lethal combat power should deterrence fail. U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Stephanie Longoria
An F-16 Fighting Falcon assigned to the 510th Fighter Squadron out of Aviano Air Base, Italy, takes off from Šiauliai Air Base, Lithuania, on Aug. 21, 2023, during Astral Knight 23 Part 6 exercise. AK23-6 enables the U.S. to work side-by-side with Baltic Allies, while demonstrating the U.S. commitment to security and stability throughout the Baltic region. U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Stephanie Longoria
A U.S. Air Force F-35 Lightning II from the 493rd Fighter Squadron out of Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, takes off from Šiauliai Air Base, Lithuania, on Aug. 22, 2023, during Astral Knight 23 Part 6. AK23-6 is an Agile
Combat Employment exercise which allows the U.S. to distribute aviation operations throughout NATO’s territory, allowing forces to jointly counter military aggression and coercion. U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Stephanie Longoria
A U.S. Air Force F-35 Lightning II from the 493rd Fighter Squadron out of Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, takes off from Šiauliai Air Base, Lithuania, on Aug. 22, 2023, during Astral Knight 23 Part 6. AK23-6 is an Agile Combat Employment exercise which allows the U.S. to distribute aviation operations throughout NATO’s territory, allowing forces to jointly counter military aggression and coercion. U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Stephanie Longoria
U.S. Air Force 1st Lt. Ryan Watkins, 510th Fighter Squadron F-16 Fighting Falcon pilot prepares for take-off during exercise Astral Knight 23 Part 6 at Šiauliai Air Base, Lithuania, on Aug. 22, 2023. AK23-6 exercises U.S. abilities to quickly receive and integrate forces with Allies and Partners to deter and defend. U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Stephanie Longoria
U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Brian Raatz, 510th Fighter Generation Squadron dedicated crew chief, marshals an F-16 Fighting Falcon before take-off during exercise Astral Knight 23 Part 6 at Šiauliai Air Base, Lithuania, on Aug. 22, 2023. AK23-6 allows the U.S. to posture for evolving conditions in forward locations, while also consulting with NATO Allies and Partners on deterrence and defense postures. U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Stephanie Longoria
U.S. Air Force Capt. Quincy Watts, 510th Fighter Squadron F-16 FIghting Falcon pilot, prepares for take-off at Šiauliai Air Base, Lithuania, on Aug. 22, 2023, during the Astral Knight 23 Part 6 exercise. AK23-6 ensures U.S. commitment for peace and stability in Europe while working alongside Allies and Partners to deter threats to national sovereignty throughout the region. U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Stephanie Longoria
U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Raquel Goncalves, 510th Fighter Generation Squadron weapons load crew member, assists with recovering an F-16 Fighting Falcon during exercise Astral Knight 23 Part 6 at Šiauliai Air Base, Lithuania, on Aug. 22, 2023. Exercising elements of Agile Combat Employment concepts enables U.S. forces in Europe to operate from locations with varying levels of capacity and support, ensuring Airmen and aircrews are postured to deliver lethal combat power across the spectrum of military operations. U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Stephanie Longoria
U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Andrew Cuevas, 510th Fighter Generation Squadron dedicated crew chief, performs a post-flight inspection on an F-16 Fighting Falcon during exercise Astral Knight 23 Part 6 at Šiauliai Air Base, Lithuania, on Aug. 22, 2023. Agile Combat Employment exercises like AK23-6 tests the ability to quickly receive and integrate U.S. forces with NATO Allies and Partners while strengthening partnerships capable of decisively meeting today’s challenges. U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Stephanie Longoria
A Lithuanian air force fuels technician refuels a U.S. F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft in support of exercise Astral Knight 23 Part 6 at Šiauliai Air Base, Lithuania, on Aug. 22, 2023. AK23-6 enables the U.S. to work side-by-side with Baltic Allies, while demonstrating the U.S. commitment to security and stability throughout the Baltic region. U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Stephanie Longoria
U.S. Air Force Staff Sgts. Brian Raatz (front), and Zachary Lester, 510th Fighter Generation Squadron dedicated crew chiefs, perform a preflight inspection on an F-16 Fighting Falcon during exercise Astral Knight 23 Part 6 at Šiauliai Air Base, Lithuania, on Aug. 22, 2023. AK23-6 allows the U.S.to incorporate Agile Combat Employment concepts in less than optimal environments to improve interoperability among forces and increase capabilities. U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Stephanie Longoria
USAF forces have operated from Rovaniemi in Finland, located at the edge of the Arctic Circle, on a less regular basis. While the base was part of the Arctic Challenge Exercise spread across Scandanavia earlier this year, no American aircraft operated from there. In January 2022, a 100th Air Refueling Wing KC-135 flew alongside Finnish fighters after taking off from Rovaniemi, and Reserve KC-135s flew from there in Arctic Challenge Exercise 2021.
“Astral Knight will continue to strengthen ally and partner interoperability while validating new ways to deploy and maneuver assets during a crisis or conflict,” Lt. Gen. John D. Lamontagne, deputy commander of USAFE, said in a statement. “Regular exercises, like AK, and our permanent forward presence are essential to projecting a credible deterrence to any future act of aggression against the alliance.”
Agile Combat Employment-related concepts have been part of recent U.S. Air Force exercises in Europe including Air Defender 2023, Defender Europe 23, and Falcon Strike 2022. F-35s and F-22s deployed to the continent have also conducted ACE operations out of countries like North Macedonia and Estonia.
