The Hellenic and the Turkish Air Forces are joining the US and the Italian Air Forces to support live-flying operations during NATO’s exercise Poggio Dart from Nov 7-11, 2022. Based at Aviano, US and Turkish Air Force F-16s as well as Hellenic Air force F-4Fs will be flying alongside Italian F-35, Eurofighter, Tornado fighters and support aircraft from their respective home bases across Italy and participate in the tactical level exercise. During the live-flying exercise, a total force of 30 multi-role aircraft will conduct Combined Air Operations above Italy. These missions are planned, coordinated and controlled by NATO’s Deployable Air Command and Control Centre (DACCC) at Poggio Renatico in northern Italy showcasing Allied cooperation, commitment and capabilities.

“From the operational and the force development, integration and requirements (FDIR) perspective, I welcome that all these air assets are coming together, ready to operate under NATO command and control ensured by the DACCC. The close cooperation at the tactical level is a confirmation that our conceptual efforts play out in practice,” Colonel Andreas Archontakis, Head of the FDIR Division at Allied Air Command.

“The fact that we have four Allies supporting this live-flying part of Poggio Dart demonstrates three things. It shows the transatlantic bond in NATO at work, as the US Air Base at Aviano host Allied fighters and the 31st Fighter Wing’s F-16 participate in the drills. The seamless and professional ability of NATO air forces to deploy, prepare, execute and control complex missions in support of Deterrence and Defence and the excellent cooperation of our Allies Greece, Italy, Türkiye and the United States,” said Brigadier General Omer Nafiz Gülmezoglu, Deputy Chief of Staff Plans at Allied Air Command.

Exercise Poggio Dart runs from Nov 2 to 11, 2022 and includes a computer assisted part that exercises the DACCC elements’ functional capabilities and combat readiness for an employment in NATO’s Very High Readiness Joint Task Force. From Nov 7-11, a live-flying exercise will involve DACCC controllers seeing through the employment of Allied air assets from the operational planning phase to the tactical execution. The long-scheduled exercise is part of the DACCC’s training and exercise cycle and an opportunity for Allied pilots, ground crews and controllers to simulate and practice common tactics, techniques and procedures for NATO Deterrence and Defence missions.