RAF Leads 'Major' NATO Exercise In Lithuania

The Royal Air Force has led a "major" NATO exercise in Lithuania. 

Exercise Furious Wolf - the first-of-its-kind to be held in the country - provided Close Air Support training for several NATO allies, the Air Force said.

The exercise was planned and overseen by Squadron Leader Rich May from the RAF Regiment. 

He is currently serving in Estonia at the headquarters of the British-led NATO Enhanced Forward Presence Battlegroup. 

Joint Terminal Attack Controllers (JTACs) from across the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland spent three weeks on the exercise, practising their Close Air Support [CAS] skills with NATO fighter jets.

The ground-based JTACs worked with RAF Typhoons and Spanish EF-18 Hornets that are currently stationed in Lithuania as part of NATO's Baltic Air Policing mission.

It involved the aircraft flying simulated ground attack sorties, under the control of the JTACs.

Sqn Ldr May said: "Opportunities for JTACs to work together are so vital; the teams can develop their skills in a safe environment with like-minded specialists and see how they operate with different equipment but working to the same NATO standard.

"The joy of the standardised nature for CAS for NATO JTACs, means we all speak the same language and understand the meaning of key words, even if English is not their first language."

Both British and Spanish air force personnel are in Lithuania helping to protect NATO airspace in the region.

One hundred and fifty personnel from RAF Lossiemouth are involved, as part of Operation Azotize.

RAF Typhoons have been called into action a number of times since deploying in late April, including intercepting Russian aircraft twice in the space of 48 hours. 

Cover image: NATO personnel on Exercise Furious Wolf (Picture: MOD).