Held from March 31-April 11, 2025 across Northern Europe, Ramstein Flag aimed to demonstrate NATO’s ability to implement and execute what is termed its ‘Deter and Defend’ concept across its member countries. The Exercise is part of the ‘Flag’ exercise series with the inaugural Ramstein Flag held at Andravida Air Base in Greece back in 2024 with this year’s edition hosted by the Royal Netherlands Air Force at its Leeuwarden Air Base. Ian Harding reports on the exercise with supporting images from Ian, Wes Bushell, Nick Thompson and Mark Empson.

This years iteration builds not only on the lessons identified during RAFL24 but also lessons from the horrendous ongoing war in Ukraine. RAFL25 involved 2000 personnel, 90 plus aircraft (fast movers, transport, air refuelling, airborne early warning, rotary, unmanned aerial vehicles) operating from 15 NATO nations and 12 allied airbases including the United Kingdom. The UK’s participation in NATO’s premier tactical event from an ‘international’ perspective comprised RAF Fairford, Gloucestershire, and RAF Marham, Norfolk. UK based United States Air Force Europe (USAF) participation included Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II from the 48 Fighter Wing at RAF Lakenheath plus Boeing KC-135R Stratotankers from the 100th Air Refuelling Wing based at RAF Mildenhall.

We will focus on the UK’s involvement. In accordance with NATO’s article 5, the primary objective of this ‘Flag’ was to strengthen collective cooperation, interoperability, and integration among Allied forces. RAFL25 tactical focus was on focus enhancing capabilities in Counter Anti-Access/Area Denial (C-A2/AD), Integrated Air and Missile Defence (IAMD), Agile Combat Employment (ACE), and information sharing among the participants. General James Hecker, Commander of NATO Allied Air Command, emphasized the importance of such exercises when he said; 

“Ramstein Flag 2025 underscores the Alliance’s determination to adapt, evolve, and deter potential threats across the Euro-Atlantic region.”  He added that; “Air superiority is a premise, for the Air Force and for all domains”; and “We are here (today) practicing to ensure that if we need to get air superiority, that we have the capability to achieve it.” (Source: NATO).

In essence, an ‘attack on one member state is considered an attack on all’. Another ‘unwritten’ and equally important purpose of this exercise was to send a message to Russia that the collective spirit and strength of NATO and its allies remains strong. One might also suggest as an independent that with European ‘relations’ strained with the United States Trump administration over many issues including Defence, there has never been a better time to demonstrate collective ‘spirit’ even though t0he US as a key NATO member were participants.

Key Components

Command and Control is the heart and Soul of an exercise of this magnitude. The ability to command and control large numbers of diverse aircraft in realistic combat settings, and enable them to perform an array of integrated and complex missions in various domains must be practised regularly. This role fell upon AWACS aircraft principally flying from Geilenkirchen, Germany who provided air surveillance, air battle management, and fighter control in support of this large-scale, live flying multi-domain, night and day time exercise. There is no doubt that with over 1800 sorties flown, RAFL25 pushed everyone involved to test if NATO has the capability to achieve air superiority.

UK Involvement

The first thing to say is that RAFL25 was pretty much blessed with glorious weather here in the UK and across Northern Europe for a change. With regards to missions, there is no doubt that aircraft enthusiasts and especially the photographers amongst us were ‘unsettled’ by the timing of the missions which generally took place ‘late’ afternoon, early evening/night time. The lack of a morning mission appeared ‘unusual’ to those at the fence but clearly NATO must rehearse every potential eventuality. 

RAF Fairford, Gloucestershire

RAF Fairford is clearly used to hosting a diverse range of aircraft including fast jets but on this occasion, to enable fighter operations, a Mobile Aircraft Arresting System (MAAS) was installed for the participating forces for the first time at the base. This was deployed by the 435th Construction and Training Squadron (CTS) from Ramstein Air Base in Germany with support from RAF Fairford’s 501st Combat Support Wing (CSW). Without MAAS in place, RAF Fairford could not have participated in the Exercise because as well as supporting operations for the based Turkish and Romanian Air Force Lockheed Martin F-16’s, the base had to remain available as a diversion airfield.

In total, RAF Fairford hosted eight Lockheed Martin F-16’s from the two countries. These comprised four Turkish Air Force (TUAF) F-16C Block 40’s and one F-16D Block 40 from 151 Filo based at Merzifon Air Base, and three single-seat Romanian Air Force (RoAF) F-16AM’s from Escadrila 48 Vânatoare, Campii Turzii Air Base (BAZA 71). All three were painted grey reflecting their former Royal Norwegian Air Force heritage. All eight F-16’s arrived in close succession around mid-day on March 26, 2025 closely followed by a TUAF Boeing KC-135R Stratotanker from 101 Filo and an Airbus A400M from 221 Filo based at Incirlik and Kayseri/Erkilet Air Base respectively. The RoAF F-16’s provided some very spirited flypasts on arrival which was enjoyed by the enthusiasts present. Romanian transport support comprised a C-27J Spartan the same afternoon from Esc.902 (Baza 90 Aviate de Transport “Gheorghe Banciulescu”) based in Bucharest. Initial Romanian support and undoubtedly a huge highlight arrived two days earlier on March 24, 2025 in the shape of one the Squadron’s four remaining Lockheed Martin C-130B’s. There really are very few operational military B variant Hercules still flying so the sight of a camouflaged ‘golden oldie’ arriving on runway 09 was a real treat. 

Commencing around 1500 local time on mission days, in the main the Turkish KC-135R headed out first, callsign ‘ASENA99’ awaiting its ‘chicks’ which on most days comprised two F-16’s each from both nations. These used ‘FANG’ (Turkey) and ‘DEVIL’ (Romania) callsigns respectively. The TUAF F-16’s also flew four aircraft missions on a number of occasions including on April 3, 2025 (night mission) and April 7, 2025 (afternoon mission). The diversity of operations and level of allied forces collaboration is perfectly illustrated by the air to air refuelling which took place during the exercise. For example, when Danish Air Force Lockheed Martin F-35A’s were refuelled by the TUAF KC-135R based at RAF Fairford and this was a particular ‘highlight’ noted by NATO. Broadly speaking, the second mission saw the F-16’s and ‘Tanker’ departing at 1900 hours local time.

ENDEX on April 11, 2025 saw all eight fighters depart along with their support aircraft which by now comprised two TUAF A400M’s (arrived April 10, 2025), a RoAF Lockheed Martin C-130H-2 Hercules plus another C-27J Spartan which travelled across Europe together from Bucharest on departure day. A nice touch on departure came when one of the TUAF F-16 pilots thanked the Air Traffic Controller and RAF Fairford for their support throughout the Exercise.

RAF Marham, Norfolk

Coming at a time when RAF Marham in Norfolk and two of its based squadrons; 809 Naval Air Squadron and 617 Squadron, are in the final stages of their F-35A work-up for Operation ‘Highmast’ (HMS Prince of Wales Carrier Strike Group deployment), RAFL25 provided a significant test. Often seen attending the Royal International Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford but rarely at other times, it was great to have four single seat Spanish Air Force Mcdonell Douglas EF-18M’s and two twin-seat EF-18BM Hornet’s deployed from Ala 12 at Torrejon De Ardoz Air Base near Madrid. With the exception of one Ala 15 coded aircraft, all carried Ala 12 squadron codes. All six aircraft arrived on March 26, 2025 supported by an A400M which remained briefly. A further A400M supported their departure whilst a Casa 295 arrived at nearby RAF Mildenhall during week 2. Flying as ‘JEDI flight’, air and ground crew worked hard to complete two missions per day which in the main comprised of three or four-ship missions. Mission times were similar to those at RAF Fairford. Based RAF Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II’s also participated. With the prevailing easterly winds and the use of RAF Marham’s 05 runway, it was easy to see how much the Spanish aircrew enjoyed their deployment with aircrew making a number of visits to the ‘fence’ to provide patches to some lucky enthusiasts. All six aircraft departed on April 11, 2025.

Other participating RAF assets included RAF Brize Norton’s Airbus Voyager KC/KC3 force and RAF Lossiemouth British Aerospace Typhoon FGR4’s. 

As NATO and all allied countries attempt to come to terms with increasing global and political uncertainty, NATO must continue to evolve and adapt as the landscape presenting now and into the future changes. The challenges faced by NATO have arguably never been greater and the demonstration of its capabilities and spirit never more needed. Ramstein Flag is a vital exercise for the Alliance.

You can find out more about the Ramstein Flag and the RAF involvement here: RAF among 15 NATO nations taking part in Exercise Ramstein Flag 2025

You can browse all our articles here: https://www.aeroresource.co.uk/articles/