NATO F-35s practise interoperability during exercise Spartan Lightning
February 17, 2025
Between 6-7 February 2025, personnel from the Royal Netherlands, Royal Norwegian and United States Air Forces demonstrated readiness, interoperability and maintenance proficiency during Exercise Spartan Lightning at Ramstein Air Base, Germany.
Traditionally a simulated exercise, this iteration of Spartan Lightning introduced the new concept of flying aircraft and personnel into the event, this allowed for cross-servicing opportunities under NATO’s Agile Combat Employment (ACE) concept.
Lieutenant Colonel Jared Marvin, 5th Combat Training Squadron D Flight Commander said that: “This Spartan Lightning iteration was the first of its kind because we flew in seven F-35s to Ramstein for the pilots to participate in the simulator training and for the maintenance personnel to participate in cross-servicing of each other’s airplanes.”
A total of seven F-35A Lightning II aircraft from the Dutch, Norwegian and United States air forces participated in the exercise, with pilots and maintainers working to achieve key training objectives.
The exercise provided the maintainers with cross-servicing opportunities and an opportunity to learn from one another’s tactics, techniques and procedures.
Master Sergeant Chris Bryant, of the U.S 495th Fighter Generation Squadron avionics section chief from RAF Lakenheath noted that: “We wanted to focus on learning the differences and similarities between how each of our NATO Allies and partners accomplishes aircraft maintenance, with the ultimate goal being to support Agile Combat Employment objectives. This way we can have any of our allies and partners send their fighter aircraft and pilots to locations around the NATO theatre and have the confidence that everyone is on the same page and the mission can continue to run smoothly” he added.
Combat scenarios for the pilots were simulated, focusing on both offensive and defensive counter-air missions, designed to sharpen operational capabilities.
The exercise integrated F-35 tactics and intelligence experts, facilitating mission planning and executing complex scenarios. These scenarios provide an opportunity for participants to leverage their individual and collective training to develop tactical solutions.
Spartan Lightning demonstrated the key role of interoperability in modern combat operations. The exercise created a collaborative environment for nations operating the F-35 to strengthen partnerships and develop shared tactical solutions. NATO Allies are increasingly embracing this operational scheme of manoeuvre designed to improve resilience and survivability. The concept envisages generating air combat power from both home bases and geographically dispersed locations. It can be used proactively or reactively involving main or deployed operating bases or contingency locations.
