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BALTOPS 2017 Kicks Off
Capt. Chris Carr, center, 351st Air Refueling Squadron pilot, conducts a crew brief with Capt. Jack Ryan, right, 351st ARS co-pilot and Senior Airman Steven Rappuhn, left, 351st ARS boom operator, prior to boarding a KC-135R Stratotanker during BALTOPS exercise at Powidz Air Base, Poland, June 6, 2017. The exercise, is designed to enhance flexibility and interoperability, to strengthen combined response capabilities, as well as demonstrate resolve among Allied and Partner Nations' forces to ensure stability in, and if necessary defend, the Baltic Sea region. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jonathan Snyder)
Photo by: Staff Sgt. Jonathan Snyder
Photo 2 of 5
BALTOPS 2017 Kicks Off
Capt. Chris Carr, 351st Air Refueling Squadron pilot, taxis in a KC-135R Stratotanker during BALTOPS exercise at Powidz Air Base, Poland, June 6, 2017. BALTOPS is an annually recurring multinational exercise designed to enhance flexibility and interoperability, as well as demonstrate resolve of allied and partner forces to defend the Baltic region. Participating nations include Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jonathan Snyder)
Photo by: Staff Sgt. Jonathan Snyder
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BALTOPS 2017 Kicks Off
Airman 1st Class Andrew Winkler, left, 100th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, and Staff Sgt. Eric Stevenson, right, 100th AMXS, inspect a KC-135R Stratotanker during BALTOPS exercise at Powidz Air Base, Poland, June 6, 2017. The U.S. Air Force is supporting this exercise with approximately 900 Airmen, eight F-16s from the 52nd Fighter Wing, Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, four KC-135 Stratotankers from the 100th Air Refueling Wing, RAF Mildenhall, U.S. Air Force Reserve 459th Air Refueling Wing, Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, one Air Force Reserve E-3 Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) from the 513th Aerial Control Group, B-52s from RAF Fairford, Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma and Airmen from the 1st Combat Communication Squadron, Ramstein Air Base, Germany are supporting this multinational exercise. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jonathan Snyder)
Photo by: Staff Sgt. Jonathan Snyder
Photo 4 of 5
BALTOPS 2017 Kicks Off
Capt. Chris Carr, 351st Air Refueling Squadron pilot, conducts a pre-flight check on a KC-135R Stratotanker during BALTOPS exercise at Powidz Air Base, Poland, June 6, 2017. BALTOPS is an annually recurring multinational exercise designed to enhance flexibility and interoperability, as well as demonstrate resolve of allied and partner forces to defend the Baltic region. Participating nations include Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jonathan Snyder)
Photo by: Staff Sgt. Jonathan Snyder
Photo 5 of 5
BALTOPS 2017 Kicks Off
Airmen from the 100th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron inspect a KC-135R Stratotanker during BALTOPS exercise at Powidz Air Base, Poland, June 6, 2017. BALTOPS is an annually recurring multinational exercise designed to enhance flexibility and interoperability, as well as demonstrate resolve of allied and partner forces to defend the Baltic region. Participating nations include Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jonathan Snyder)
Photo by: Staff Sgt. Jonathan Snyder
Exercise BALTIC OPERATIONS (BALTOPS) is underway in the Baltic Sea region until 16 June. Air, maritime, and ground assets from several NATO Allies and Partner Nations are involved in the live training event that started from Szczecin, Poland and finishes in Kiel, Germany.
“What we want to do is practice and demonstrate the ability to deliver sea control and power projection at and from the sea,” said U.S. Navy Vice Adm. Christopher Grady, Joint Force Maritime Component Commander Europe.
BALTOPS is an annual recurring multinational, maritime-focused exercise designed to provide high end training for the participants. This year, approximately 6,000 servicemembers from 14 countries (Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, the United Kingdom, the United States and NATO's Enhanced Opportunities Partners: Finland and Sweden) will participate.
The U.S. Air Force is supporting the exercise with approximately 900 Airmen and 19 aircraft to include: eight F-16s from the 31st Fighter Wing, Aviano Air Base, Italy, four KC-135 Stratotankers from the 100th Air Refueling Wing, RAF Mildenhall, U.S. and U.S. Air Force Reserve 459th Air Refueling Wing, Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, one Air Force Reserve E-3 Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) from the 513th Aerial Control Group, Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, B-52 Stratofortresses from the 2nd Bomb Wing, Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, B-1 Lancers from the 28th Bomb Wing, Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota, and Airmen from the 1st Combat Communication Squadron, Ramstein Air Base, Germany.
“This exercise is a great opportunity for the United States, NATO allies and partners to practice air and maritime integration,” said U.S. Navy Cmdr. Edward Chandler, BALTOPS Air Syndicate Lead.
The exercise, is designed to enhance flexibility and interoperability, to strengthen combined response capabilities, as well as demonstrate resolve among Allied and Partner Nations' forces to ensure stability within the Baltic Sea region.
“We’ve maintained a consistent level of participation over the last couple of years,” said Grady. “It’s a very large exercise with a lot of moving parts and the participants will provide that realistic and challenging training we’re looking for.”
