Exercise Auxilium Fort: Specialists who make flying possible put to the ultimate test

Exercise Auxilium Fort brought together the Global Enablement Force – the specialists who provide the essential ground support that makes air operations possible.

The exercise tested the full deployment cycle, ensuring the ground operations underpinning air power could be delivered effectively in all conditions.

From establishing an operating base and sustaining flying activity, to responding to escalating threats, managing incidents and testing the recovery of deployed capabilities, personnel were challenged to keep operations moving under pressure.

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Running alongside Exercise Cobra Warrior 26-2, the exercise provided a realistic environment for RAF personnel and international partners to train together and demonstrate what being 'Nato First' in action really means.

Replicating the pressure of modern operations

From logistics, engineering, communications and catering to medical support, RAF Police, force protection and Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) specialists, teams worked across a deployed operating base to replicate the pressures of modern operations.

Nato and RAF Global Enablement personnel carried out runway repairs.

CBRN scenarios added further complexity, testing how the whole deployed force responds, adapts and continues operating when conditions change. 

Personnel from the French Air and Space Force and Service de l'Énergie Opérationnelle trained alongside RAF teams, while Tactical Medical Wing was joined by personnel from the United States Air Force's 48th Fighter Wing.