Polish-based NATO exercise sees UK test its air and missile defences
The 7th Air Defence Group are in Poland to meet their NATO counterparts to take part in the exercise Ramstein Legacy.
Exercise Ramstein Legacy is a long standing NATO exercise that aims to reinforce Allied air and missile defence abilities. NATO’s Integrated Air and Missile Defence is an essential mission which aims to safeguard and protect Alliance territory, populations and forces against any air and missile threat and attack.
In the Baltic Sea region, 17 allied nations are taking part in the exercise with a mixture of fighters, support aircraft, Surface Based Air and Missile Defence units and personnel.
“Over the past two weeks’ we have worked closely with personnel from Slovakia, Czech Republic, France, Turkey, and Poland.”- Lieutenant Candy
Participants are operating from bases in Poland and the Baltic States while being supported by aircraft flying from bases across Europe. Participation from NATO partners Finland and Sweden shows our close relationship and cooperation and demonstrates common tactics, techniques and procedures.
Nearly 100 soldiers from 7 Air Defence Group have deployed to Poland as part of the UK’s contribution to the exercise.
This includes a Stormer, a military armoured vehicle. It is crewed by troops from 12 Royal Artillery. Part of the equipment deployed is also a Starstreak High Velocity Missile system. A system developed to counter the threat of attack helicopters and low flying aircraft.
Exercise Ramstein Legacy is part of a series of exercises known as Project Unified Stance that has seen troops taking part in many exercises throughout Europe including Exercise Defender in Poland, Exercise Swift Response in North Macedonia, Exercise Iron Wolf in Lithuania and Exercise Hedgehog in Estonia.
Find out more about the NATO exercises that have been taking place across Europe: 👇
These exercise showcases the scale and significance of the British Army’s contribution to the defence of Europe and highlight the continued importance of the leadership role which UK plays as a member of NATO and the Joint Expeditionary Force.
Meet one of the UK Armed Forces taking part in this exercise:
So introduce yourself and tell us about the exercise
“So my name is Bombarder Bradley. I’m part of 12 Reg Royal Artillery. Ramstein Legacy is a Polish-led exercise with all coalition forces in NATO working together and being able to integrate and use the same doctrine combined to achieve the goal of the mission that we’ve taught to do. “
What type of weapons are you using?
“So our defence is very short. It’s short range air defence. What we achieve is targeting the lower parts of flight levels etc. We are using wing rotary and wing aircrafts as well.”
Are you working with anyone else on this exercise?
“So we’re working with nations along the line. We’ve got Turkey here working alongside us as well as Polish, Italian and French forces, all working together to be able to integrate and build up that laid out offence that we need to achieve, for our mission.”
