Annual Review 2016

1

ContentsForeword Page 2

EAG Objectives and Organization Page 3

Director EAG - Handover Ceremony 11 January 2016 Page 4

EPRC Inauguration Ceremony Page 5

4th / 5th Generation Aircraft Integration Initiative Page 6

Air Cyber Page 8

Deployable Air Activation Module Page 9

Force Protection Page 10

VOLCANEX FP CPX 2015 Page 12

EAG Aviation Medicine Yearly Review Page 14

Advance Interoperable Load Management Course Page 16

Eurofighter Typhoon Interoperability Project (ETIP) Page 18

CIS Lessons Identified/Lessons Learned (LI/LL) Page 20

Steering Group and Working Group Meetings 2015 Page 21

European Air Group

2

It is my great pleasure to write a foreword to the EAG’s Annual Review 2016. In this Review we look back at our successes of the past, but importantly, we also look forward to a very promising future. One of the most important achievements of last year was the inauguration of the European Personnel Recovery Centre, in Poggio Renatico, Italy; this marked the successful realization of this project that was established within a 2 year period from conception to delivery, which was a demonstration of the effectiveness of the EAG. This was a significant event and through this Centre our Personnel Recovery capabilities across Europe will be strengthened and our interaction with NATO will continue to develop further.

At the start of this year we hosted the official Director EAG Handover Ceremony, from Air Chief Marshal Sir Andrew Pulford to General del Aire Javier García Arnaiz. The highly successful event was attended by Air Attaches and EAG staffs. In the coming year we will continue to explore ways of improving the interoperability and effectiveness of the 7-EAG Nations and also to be well connected with other multinational military organizations.

The EAG has moved forward with important work in many areas, for example working closely with European partners in the area of Interoperability of Future Combined Air Operations to establish a forum to increase mutual understanding and information sharing. Within the AirCyber domain we are working to enhance Air Cyber information sharing and improve interoperability between the partner Nations with the creation of a number of supporting multinational publications (Air Forces Reference Manual, Cyber Competencies and Skills Catalogue and Cyber Training Catalogue). At our highly successful VOLCANEX 15 held at Royal Air Force Honington, we conducted a multinational exercise, which strengthened FP interoperability between the EAG nations through improving command and control procedures, underpinned by the use of common doctrine and culminated in a simulation of a deployed multinational Combined Joint Operations Centre. Additionally, in the FP arena, with the support of the Nations, we plan to create the full range of standardized documents for the Nations with the intention to have generic and standardized documents for use during VOLCANEX DOBEX 16 in Germany in Oct 16. Furthermore, we coordinated the 11th Advanced Aviation Medicine Course, with 9 international students successfully

Foreword

Brigadier General Giacomo De PontiDeputy Director EAG

graduating. We continue to support NATO in several areas, not least with the EAG’s facilitation of a multinational Combined Air Terminal Operations(CATO) in direct support of Exercise TRIDENT JUNCTURE at Zaragoza AB, Spain. The CATO operated very successfully processing a significant volume of passenger and freight movements and the EAG’s CATO procedures provided standardized procedures, which were underpinned by the use of common doctrine using EAG, EATC and NATO documentation. Additionally, we are working closely with Italy to create the Deployed Air Activation Modules concept and conops and as a consequence, the EAG is playing a central role is supporting NATO’s aspiration to increase the number of Multi-National and common-funded capabilities for future NATO-led operations. There are many other projects that the EAG is engaged with, and I encourage you to view our website for further details.

I sincerely hope that you find this Annual Review useful. The EAG works on behalf of the 7 member nations and to do our work effectively, but we need your support and your feedback. Therefore, please feel free to engage with us in our aim to improve capability through interoperability.

Annual Review 2016

3

EAG Objectives

EAG Organization

EAG Mission“The 7-Nation EAG Staff develops suitable ideas and initiatives into projects with the aim to produce useable end-products that promote interoperability between the EAG or partner Air Forces and may also assist other organisations in their efforts.”

EAG Vision“Seven Air Forces that are able to operate together as one across the spectrum of conflict”.

EAG Motto“Improved capability through interoperability”.

The objective of the EAG, as embodied in the founding Inter-Governmental Agreement, and adjusted by the Amending Protocol, is:

“to improve the operational capabilities of the Parties’ Air Forces to carry out operations in pursuit of shared interests, primarily through mechanisms which enhance interoperability“.

Permanent Staff located at EAG HQ

OC Support(GBR)

AM / SRNO(BEL)

AM / SRNO(DEU)

AM / SRNO(ESP)

AM / SRNO(FRA)

AM / SRNO(ITA)

AM / SRNO(NLD)

AM / SRNO(GBR)

SO(BEL)

SO(DEU)

SO(ESP)

SO(FRA)

SO(ITA)

SO(NLD)

SO(GBR)

SO(BEL)

SO(DEU)

SO(ESP)

SO(FRA)

SO(ITA)

SO(NLD)

SO(GBR)

C & E(BEL)

Executive

Staff Officers

Admin & Support

Director(2 year Rotational Post)

Deputy Director(2 year Rotational Post)

Chief of Staff(3 year Rotational Post)

C & E(BEL)

Fin Mgr(DEU)

IT Mgr(ESP)

Outer Office(FRA)

IT Mgr(ITA)

Admin Spt(GBR)

European Air Group

4

Director EAG – Handover Ceremony 11 January 2016

The handover ceremony took place in the EAG Headquarters located at Royal Air Force High Wycombe. All EAG Permanent Staff together with EAG Nations Air and Defence Attachés attended the ceremony. General Arnaiz was also accompanied by his Air Staff Secretary General, Cabinet Chief and EAG Working Group representative.Air Chief Marshal Sir Andrew Pulford addressed the audience to thank all the EAG Staff for their work in the last two years and highlighted the importance of the EAG for our Air Forces development.

After the handover and takeover certificates were signed General Arnaiz was given the EAG Permanent Staff pin badge by Air Chief Marshal Sir Andrew Pulford. General Arnaiz, as the new Director EAG, took the floor and confirmed his strong commitment to continue the good work carried out and to encourage the future work of the EAG towards the new interoperability needs in accordance with the defence scenarios. He thanked Air Chief Marshal Sir Andrew Pulford and all the EAG Permanent Staff fortheir dedication in the past years. As a gesture of appreciation Air Chief Marshal Sir Andrew Pulford was presented with the EAG crest by the new Director, marking his time in office.

On 11 January 2016 General del Aire F. Javier García Arnaiz took over command of the EAG from Air Chief Marshal Sir Andrew Pulford, who has held the Directorship of the EAG since January 2014.

After the ceremony General Arnaiz held a meeting with EAG Deputy Director Brigadier General De Ponti and the EAG Chief Of Staff Colonel Pierre to offer his vision on the future work and projects of the EAG. After the meeting General Arnaiz chatted with the rest of the EAG Permanent Staff over coffee.

Later the new Director EAG and his accompanying staff, following the invitation by Air Chief Marshal Sir Andrew Pulford, visited the National Air Defence Operation Center (NADOC) located at Royal Air Force High Wycombe. General Arnaiz was briefed on the Royal Air Force air defence and command and control systems. Once the visit ended the General Arnaiz and the accompanying personnel enjoyed a working lunch prior to their return journey to Royal Air Force Northolt whereupon they flew back to Spain.

Annual Review 2016

5

EPRC Inauguration Ceremony On 3 July 2013, the 7 EAG Chiefs of Air Staff decided during the 2013 EAG Steering Group Meeting in Madrid, to create a European Personnel Recovery Centre (EPRC). An interim EPRC was initiated and situated at RAF High Wycombe with 8 Staff Officers under the control of the Director of the EAG. The structure of the interim EPRC allowed the Centre to accept non-EAG personnel as part of the EPRC team in order to develop the operational infrastructure necessary to allow the EPRC to reach initial and later full operational capability (IOC/ FOC). The mandate for these interim structures was limited to two years. The EPRC achieved IOC on 8 July 2015 and an inauguration ceremony was held in-situ at its final location in Poggio Renatico (Italy), splitting from the EAG to become an independent and Joint unit.

The ceremony was hosted by the Italian Air Chief, Lieutenant General Pasquale Preziosa, and was attended by the Italian Minister of Defence, Roberta Pinotti, the Air Chiefs of Staff of the 7 member countries of the EAG as well as many operational commanders from NATO and EU Headquarters.

The EPRC is now successfully established and operational as an independent and Joint unit. It has already grown to 19 personnel, with all 7 founding nations represented. Like the EAG, the Centre is commanded by a steering committee composed of representatives of the member countries and each of the countries is granted the position of Director by means of rotation.

The main activities of the EPRC are organising the Combined Joint Personnel Recovery Standardisation Course and Personnel Recovery Controllers and Planners Course. Furthermore, they lead the Joint Personnel Recovery Steering Group/Working Group and the SERE School Leaders Working Group meetings. Full Operational Capability is scheduled for June 2016.

For more information about the EPRC please visit www.eprc.it

European Air Group

6

4th/5th Generation Aircraft Integration Initiative

This EAG initiative to establish practical steps to think through and shape the impact of the arrival of 5th gen aircraft on current 4th gen-based European air power was initiated in 2014 following a task given by the EAG Steering Group.

The initiative had three clear objectives: (1) identify 4th/5th generation aircraft integration challenges at an unclassified level, (2) evaluate the need to harmonize a number of these challenges at a Multinational level and (3) determine a potential role for the EAG in resolving these challenges. To fulfil these objectives, EAG Permanent Staff arranged two seminars (November 2014 and May 2015) where representatives from EAG Air Forces debated in six different areas of discussion: General Interoperability; Command and Control; Planning; Operations and Doctrine; Education and Training; 5th Generation Weapons and Connectivity. Key Note Speakers (KNS) representing different expertise related to the areas of discussion attended the seminars with the purpose of motivating debate and gaining deeper understanding and analysis of the upcoming challenges. Key findings of this unique and worthwhile effort were presented to the EAG Steering Group in July 2015 which decided, not only to continue the work strands where specific multinational solutions are foreseen, but also to expand this work by taking a broader, more inclusive look, to include all aspects of interoperability, C2 and interconnectivity (the ‘cloud’ idea), all within the European Air and NATO context.

To properly embrace the scope of this new task, EAG Permanent Staff have renamed it with a new title: Interoperability of Future Combined Air Operations (IFCAO), as “future air operations” is to be the glue that holds all the work together and “interoperability” is the main asset EAG is capable to provide to the SG challenge.

Having achieved a solid foundation from the 4th/5th Generation Aircraft Integration Initiative, during 2016 the

4th/5th Generation Aircraft Integration Initiative: Expansion Work Towards The Interoperability of Future Combined Air Operations

new IFCAO task will require direct communication with, and support from, the nations at senior/expert level to first understand which areas of interest the nations wish the EAG to coordinate. This work strand will be complemented by linkage with multinational organizations – EUMS and NATO in particular, which will add a joint perspective to the future work and provide the EU/NATO context demanded by the SG.

4th/5th Generation Aircraft Integration Initiative: Future Multinational Red Air Requirements

During the EAG Steering Group (SG) held in Poggio Renatico (Italy) the 7 July 2015, the Air Chiefs were briefed about the progress achieved in exploring the challenges of operating 5th generation fighter aircraft alongside legacy 4th generation aircraft in a coalition environment.

As part of the task of scoping the broader issues impacting the interaction between 5th Generation capabilities with legacy air power concepts and capabilities, the SG approved to initiate work aiming at specific multinational solutions to fulfil a possible common “capacity gap” for a future Red Air.

To that end, the EAG hosted in November 2015 a two-day workshop on Multinational Red Air Requirements with three clear objectives: (1) For EAG Nations to put in common their understanding of a Red Air Capability (2) To motivate discussion among the nations which could evolve on a multinational Red Air initiative and (3) To define a minimum of Red Air capability related sharing requirements to train together and to identify possible ways forward.

The workshop was considered very beneficial for Nations and the need for current and future live and synthetics Red Air Training was stated as a common requirement which will be further explore during 2016.

Annual Review 2016

7

European Air Group

8

Air CyberThe emergence of Cyberspace creates a major technical departure and a real operational and conceptual revolution. This presents new opportunities to nations (going up to the political level) in development and control of Cyberspace, and is considered as a high priority by all EAG Nations and NATO.

In the defence sector, the use of Cyberspace allows improvement in the performance of weapon systems, which are becoming a part of this new space. It completely revolutionizes our future operations, but at the same time it highlights the necessity to better protect our assets in order to guarantee the continuity of our operations. Therefore, this domain demands attention.

However, just as the Cyber component can be deemed to be in support of Air Forces (defence of our own Air asset but also attack on the adversary to prevent manoeuvre) it must also be seen that Air Forces can be in support of the Cyber component (destruction of data centres etc). It is therefore important to understand at Air level how to integrate Cyber in Air planning and targeting. Moreover, the involvement of Air Forces in the Cyberspace arena is reinforced by the fact that the future vision of Air power will probably be a combination of Air power and Cyber power.

Therefore it is more crucial than ever to coordinate the Cyber component with Air activity and necessary for

the EAG to be involved. Following the direction of the Steering Group in July 2015, the EAG proposed to work on how to best support Air Forces in Cyber defence at an UNCLASSIFIED level and in a multinational environment. To begin to achieve this, the EAG organized its first Cyber Defence seminar, held at the EAG HQ 13 - 14 October 2015. The seminar was attended by representatives from the EAG nations and NATO HQ AIRCOM.

Some possible EAG challenges were identified during this seminar. Indeed, EAG involvement could immediately improve mutual understanding of respective activities and facilitate training and exercise sharing. With three possible projects in this area proposed to nations, 2016 should be the first EAG Cyber project year.

In parallel of these three possible projects, the EAG keeps also on investing to support nations in the exchange of information in an ad-hoc coalition and the strengthening of the resilience against Cyber attack.

Annual Review 2016

9

Deployable Air Activation Module

The DAAM generated MN DOB would be deployed and operated by combining the individual national Logistic force contributions as part of a comprehensive multinational force package, allowing the nations participating in the DAAM Project to meet their operational commitments in a more affordable and effective manner. The development of DAAM is meant to lead to the creation of a mechanism that can minimise the gap between the Planning and Force Generation phases of a Deployed Air Operation.

The EAG nations have agreed to implement the NATO DAAM Project within an EAG framework and have developed specific planning and activating procedures. The EAG is therefore supporting the development of this NATO SD Project, utilising both the outcomes of the EAG DAAM and of the existing EAG Deployable

Support to future operations requires innovative and comprehensive approaches to cooperation due to the ongoing necessity to reduce costs. Consequently, NATO Deployable Air Activation Modules (DAAM) have been developed as part of the NATO Smart Defence Project 1.16 and are intended to enable the rapid generation of a Multi National Deployed Operating Base (MN DOB) through Multi National Combat Service Support (CSS) Modules. A keystone of DAAM is that there is no intention to create new forces or units, but only to re-organize existing assets in a more rational and reciprocally-structured modular manner.

Multinational Air Wing (DMAW) Project. The EAG has activated an EAG Air/CSS Planning Group, in support of the “EAG side” of DAAM. That Group is aimed at developing a robust planning, force generation and operating processes to better use existing and future military CSS capabilities to meet multinational operational requirements. To this end, an EAG DAAM Handbook has been produced, in order to develop a system allowing the practical implementation of the DAAM Project, with particular focus on the DAAM planning phases. The “NATO side” of the DAAM Project has been progressed with the signature of a Letter Of Intent (LOI), where the signatory nations expressed their commitment to NATO to participate in the DAAM Project. The LOI allowed the activation of a specific NATO DAAM Working Group, that will be supported by the EAG and take advantage of the activities already performed under the EAG umbrella.

European Air Group

10

Force ProtectionEAG Force Protection Publication for Air OperationsThe EAG Force Protection Publication for Air Operations was approved by the seven EAG Nations and signed by the Director EAG, Air Chief Marshal Sir Andrew Pulford on 17 September 2014. The “EAG Force Protection Publication for Air Operations” provides a significant step forward for interoperability amongst the EAG community.

Based on the outstanding work of JAPCC ATP-3.3.6 DRAFT, this publication gives an understanding of air mindedForce Protection applied to a Deployable Operating Basein a multinational environment.

It was officially implemented for the first time during VOLCANEX 2014 which confirmed its relevance and was met with great success.

As such it currently constitutes as a reference document for the seven EAG nations and other Air Forces for exercises and real life operations until the ratification of the NATO document (ATP-3.3.6).

FP Information ExchangeSimple, practical, efficient - That’s what an EAG product should be!

Lessons learned from the French led SERVAL operation in Mali had shown that the flow and nature of Force Protection Information (FPI) exchanged between EAG Air Forces was not clearly identified. Among other consequences, information shared was assessed not accurate enough to establish and maintain clear situation awareness. In practical terms, the difficulty to gather tactical FPI from other EAG Air Forces during the planning and/or the deployment phase of Air assets was clearly obvious.

In light of this observation, this lack of formal process to exchange tactical FPI has been assessed as an interoperability gap, as it hampers EAG Air Forces to determine clearly what risk can be expected and which additional FP security measures should be implementedto reduce the risk to an acceptable level for each Nation.

Once validated by the EAG Working Group, a new project was initiated; the creation of a Force Protection Information exchange procedure.

By providing a mechanism which facilitates requesting and sharing of tactical FPI related to FP operational considerations, to and from one another, this procedure

can improve interoperability in the field of Force Protection Planning among EAG nations and partners.

The FPI exchange procedure was created by SMEs from the EAG nations and signed by the EAG Deputy Director, Brigadier General Giacomo De Ponti on 14 October 2015.

The Content

A simple list of identified POCs

A practical request form

An efficient process

Annual Review 2016

11

As part of the EAG FP STOX-TA activities, the EAG organized the EAG FP Seminar 2015 at the Spanish AIR FP School for “Technical Security, Defense and Support” and the home of the “1st Air Deployment Support SQ. (EADA”) at Zaragoza Air Base, Spain from 9 to 11 June 2015. The Air Base of Zaragoza is one of the largest air base in Spain and offers from a climate and terrain perspective a challenging FP training environment.

In order to emphasize the main seminar objectives, the event was articulated around the following presentations:

• Static and Dynamic Presentation of the Spanish Air Force FP Capabilities by 1st Air Deployment Support SQ. (EADA), • A series of 45 minute presentations of attending nations’ capabilities and operational experience, • Air Command Ramstein Air Force FP perspective on peacetime and crisis operations with an additional focus on the JFAC structure and current challenges, • EAG overview followed by an in depth focus on EAG FP related Projects and Activities, • A syndicate work in order to discuss national Force Protection capabilities.

Amongst other highlights, a very interesting static displayof capabilities followed by a dynamic display wereprovided by the 1st Air Deployment Support SQ. (EADA) on the second day of the seminar. The EAG FP Community appreciates all effort made by the Spanish Air Force and especially by the Spanish AIR FP School and 1st Air Deployment Support SQ. (EADA) for the outstanding hospitality. The EAG nations look forward to send AIR FP

airmen on Spanish Air Force FP trainings offered under the umbrella of the STOX-TA FP Master Plan to this challenging desert like climate zone.

National Force Protection CapabilitiesThe ongoing effect of defence reviews within our nations continues to impact national Air FP capabilities and an overview of the current national situation was presented by each nation during their national presentation. The data collected will be analysed by the EAG and, if any relevant points are identified, they will be brought to the attention of the 7 EAG Air Forces’ Chiefs of Staff.

EAG FP Seminar 2015

European Air Group

12

Besides, following Lieutenant General Wundrak (C-JAPCC) suggestion, VOLCANEX FP CPX 15 was the opportunity to invite the Baltic States in order to support the current NATO Assurance Measures.

In fact, it was not less than 129 attendees that participated in this exercise including Denmark (2 observers), Estonia (2 participants), Latvia (2 observers) and Lithuania (2 observers).

The exercise simulated an AIR FP deployment to a Deployed Operating Base situated somewhere in Africa. It was executed in a Synthetic Training Facility (STF) with a White Force/HICON using battlefield simulation software ‘Virtual Battle Space 2’ which provided the syndicates with ‘live’ static camera, balloon camera, UAV and Blue Force Trackers feeds according to the MEL/MIL. Participants were divided into two Command and Control Teams (1 x FRA lead and 1 x DEU lead), each completing 2 x 6 hour executes. While executing, participants were permanently mentored by an experienced team from the FPC who guided them in some of their tactical choices and provided them with post-exercise debriefings.

When momentum turns into widespread enthusiasmFollowing the 2014 edition success and taking in consideration the lessons learned, a new VOLCANEX FP CPX was carried out over the period 19 to 27 October 2015 at RAF Honington, Force Protection Centre (FPC). Once again, it was designed, as a Command Post Exercise (CPX) simulating a multinational Combined Joint Operations Centre (CJOC), using EAG Force Protection documentation (SOPs, SOs and Job descriptions).

VOLCANEX FP CPX 2015

Participants were able to run a simulated multinational DOB FP C2 structure (within a CJOC), reaching at the end an excellent level of standardization and interoperability. Additionally to the training in the STF a ‘Planning Education’ serial based on the AIR FP Estimate and a RAF FP Capability Demonstration were executed.

A Visitors Day for EAG and NATO visitors was organised on 26 October 2015. The aim of this day was to demonstrate to the senior leadership of the nations under exercise and for them to receive first-hand feedback on the quality and benefit of the training to their national participants.

Wing Commander Parkinson from JAPCC, known as “Jez” in the FP community, delivered a brilliant introduction of the FP planning cycle through a specific and current example: Air Baltic policing.

To finish on this point, the Visitors Day picture would not be complete without mentioning the dynamic display of FP in-action performed by RAF FP/MP personnel which was an excellent showcase for FP capability.

Annual Review 2016

13

VOLCANEX FP CPX 15 was highly instructive and carried with it important lessons. The main one being to review working documents (job description, SOs and SOPs) as an EAG project and to update documents as part of the VOLCANEX planning process.

In conclusion, VOLCANEX FP CPX 15 proved again to be a very good FP C2 platform on which to train and operate in a multinational environment and underscored the unique training opportunity offered by the RAF FPC. This latter is to be considered a unique training opportunity of great value to train a multinational CJOC via a STF.

EAG nations expressed the strong wish for future AIR FP CPXs hosted by the RAF Honington FPC on at least an annual basis to establish and maintain a multinational AIR FP understanding.

European Air Group

14

Aviation Medicine High Cost Equipment Technical ArrangementAt present there is no pre-established mechanism to enable member nations to share their Aeronautical Medicine (AvMed) aircrew training equipment and installations, such as centrifuges, spatial disorientation chambers, hypobaric chambers or night vision training facilities (generically defined as High Cost Equipment (HCE)). Enabling nations to share the use of their HCE will provide stronger support to Human Factors training and could result in a reduction of associated costs. The HCE TA Project was initiated in 2010 via a FRA-raised Project Initiation Form. The TA provides a multi-national framework to facilitate mutual support through the exchange of aeromedical services relating to HCE for Human Factors training of aircrew, thus enhancing interoperability within the field of Aviation Medicine. Consequently, the HCE TA provides for:

a) Mutual logistic support between the Participants in the field of Aviation Medicine and specifically in the use of HCE for study and training purposes. b) Establishment of the Hypobaric Chamber Operating Run (HCOR – the cost of one hour of operation of a hypobaric chamber) as the common unit of exchange to perform all the training activities under this TA. c) Procedures for requesting such support between the Participants, as well as the relevant exchange and balancing mechanisms (modelled against the Air Transport and Air Refuelling Exchange of Services TA – ATARES TA) and eventual financial compensation.

It is envisaged that the TA will be signed by all EAG member nations in the first term of 2016.

In 2005 the 7 EAG Air Forces’ Chiefs of Staff signed the Aviation Medicine Technical Arrangement (AV MED TA). The aim of the AV MED TA is to provide a multinational framework to promote and facilitate collaboration and cooperation between the participants’ Air Forces in the field of Aviation Medicine. The AVMED TA is the foundation document of the Aviation Medicine Coordination Board (AVMED CB). The CB is the overarching committee comprised of specialist representatives from each participating nation and plans and supervises the overall activities under the authority of the AVMED TA. The AVMED Coordination Board met on 2 occasions in 2015: the 29th Meeting was held in Oxfordshire (UK) in April 2015 and was hosted by the Royal Air Force at RAF Brize Norton; the 30th Meeting was held in Dresden (DEU) in October 2015 and was hosted by the German Air Force. This last Coordination Board coincided with the Closing Ceremony of the 11th Advanced Medicine Course.

EAG Aviation MedicineYearly Review

EAG Advanced Aviation Medicine Course for Senior Flight SurgeonThe Advanced AVMED Course provides advanced training for Flight Surgeons in the field of Aviation Medicine. The objective of the Course is to give Senior Medical officers (SMO’s) an update on newest developments in the field of Aviation Medicine and enable them to perform high-level Staff duties as well to advise military policy makers on Aviation Medicine related matters. The Av Med Course consists of a modular structure, given in different locations, enabling participants to visit the most advanced Aviation Medicine Centres across Europe.

Eleven Advanced AVMED Courses have been successfully run to date: 66 Flight Surgeons from EAG Nations and 12 Non-EAG Nations’ students have benefited from attendance on the course.

As for 2015, seven students from EAG member nations as well as two students from Canada and Finland have attended the Ad Av Med Course, that included modules dealing with Operational Support, Space and Operational Medicine, Policy & Legal issues, Clinical Aviation Medicine, Human Factors, Aircraft Accident investigation, Spatial disorientation, Night Vision, Aeromedical Evacuation and Aviation Physiology.

Annual Review 2016

15

1. CAM, RAF Henlow, UK

2. IAMT, Rome, ITA

3. CIMA, Madrid, ESP

4. EVDG, Paris, FRA

5. CMA, Soesterberg, NDL

6. ZentrLuRMedLw,Furstenfeldbruck, DEU

7. ZentrLuRMedLw,Konigsbruck, DEU

11th AdvancedAviation Medicine Course

European Air Group

16

The Advance Interoperable Load Management Course (AILMC) is a train-the-trainer course and, since 2010, has been hosted on an annual rotational basis between the EAG Nations.

Advance Interoperable Load Management Course

In 2015, the fifth edition of this course was carried out in Zaragoza Air Base, Spain, from 23 November to the 4 December. EADA or “Escuadrón de Apoyo al Despliegue Aéreo” (Air Deployable Support Squadron) successfully hosted and supported the course within its premises in Zaragoza. Instructors from Belgium, France, Italy, The Netherlands, United Kingdom and the European Air Transport Command (EATC) joined the Spanish instructors to make the most of this two weeks course.

This course is designated for experienced senior NCOs or junior officers with thorough knowledge of their national load handling process and related dangerous goods aspects. The AILMC consists of academics and multinational training activities where attendants get to know the specifications of the most commonly transport planes used in Europe. The course aims at strengthening

already existing competencies, skills and experience based on regulations of ICAO, FAA, NATO, EAG and EATC 1. It also includes updates on the latest developments used within the EAG Nations, including training in special procedures such as engine running on/ offloads and winching. This year the course was improved including practice training on a UK A400M and night operations with the use of Night Vision Goggles (NVGs). Additionally, the Spanish Air Force supported the training granting access to a C-130 and a CN-295.

Over the years, the need and importance for international cooperation in the air transportation domain has increased. It has become common practice that more nations contribute to an operation. With that, the demands on modern air transport and capabilities handling passengers, luggage, cargo and mail in a multinational

1 International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), European Air Group (EAG), European Air Transport Command (EATC).

Annual Review 2016

17

environment have grown. The Advanced Interoperable Loading Management Course (AILMC) offers opportunities to increase knowledge, skills and experience between international experts and various organizations that have a discipline in ground handling and air terminal operations.

The necessity for cross-national training is particularly applicable to personnel who will work with aircraft assigned to the EATC, as they will not know exactly which aircraft type might be allocated to fulfil a mission. It is vitally important therefore that all Air Movements personnel are trained to operate using agreed Multi National Standards such as the CATO SOP and know where to access details of all EAG Aircraft and any other relevant interoperability details.

In September 2016, The Netherlands is scheduled to host the next course making it a solid and experienced event within the EAG.

Functional Integration TrainingBesides the AILMC, a week long CATO Functional Integration Training Course (FIT) is provided annually by the Italian Air Force. The FIT is targeted at junior Air Movements personnel to provide them with the skills and knowledge necessary to integrate successfully when working in a Multinational environment. The initial CATO FIT training event took place at Villafranca Air Base (ITA) in October 2011. In 2012, VOLCANEX provided the opportunity to train the MN Air Movements personnel who deployed to Vouziers AB (FRA) in the set up and operation of a Deployed Operating Base CATO. The 2013 and 2014 EAG and Other Logistical Focuses The EAGhas been founded with the aim to improve the operationalcapabilities of the Parties’ Air Forces to carry out operations in pursuit of shared interests, primarily through mechanisms which enhance interoperability.

The idea behind this is that nations are able to support and/or to complement each other during operations or exercises by applying the plug-and-play principle. This should lead to a more effective operation using fewer resources and with a smaller logistical footprint, and therefore also lead to cost savings. However, that is easier said than done, as there are many interoperability challenges amongst the various nations. The EAG has

always been very pro-active in the area of Air Movement, Fuels and deployed Airfield support.

FIT 2015 event took place in ITA and covered basic Air Movement operations, such as Aircraft loading/unloading and the documentation and preparation of items of air freight prior to loading. The FIT provides a key source of training for Airmen and Junior NCOs who are liable to deploy in support of MN Exercises and Out Of Area operations by providing familiarization with the equipment and procedures used by other EAG nations. In 2015, FIT provided pre-deployment training to personnel who were nominated to support the large scale NATO Exercise TRIDENT JUNCTURE where the EAG sponsored a CATO capability to one of the main APODs. Alongside with this, a couple of FIT were run during the exercise as new personnel were arriving.

There is a well-recognised need to ensure that all Movements Personnel from the EAG Nations are trained to operate in the multinational operational environment. Personnel need to be familiar with a wide variety of SOPs, Air Cargo Handling Equipment and the procedures used to support the wide range of Air Transport (AT) aircraft currently in use. As Spain and Italy recently joined the EATC some of the EAG Air Movements tasks will transfer gradually to the EATC starting with the projects related to Interoperable Load Clearance (ILC).

European Air Group

18

Eurofighter Typhoon Interoperability Project (ETIP)The European Typhoon Interoperability Project (ETIP) is an EAG activity that commenced in July 2012 and aims to facilitate the discussion and sharing of tactical/operational issues between the EAG Typhoon Community at Squadron level interoperating on three main areas-operations, flight safety and maintenance.

During 2015, ETIP was able to develop tangible products to support the EAG Typhoon community. An ETIP SharePoint web page to exchange information on the three main areas mentioned above was set up. Additionally the group was able to develop a common “Flying SOP” document, which will improve interoperability in combined contests.

Following a period of initial Project development work, the ETIP community met on April 2015 at Grosseto AFB (Italy) for the 5th ETIP Meeting1. During this Meeting, the Nations representatives agreed a proposal to take their interoperability aspirations one step forward, concurring the requirement to organize a live ETIP exercise named “VOLCANEX ETIP LIVEX15” focused on both ground and air interoperability.

The Exercise was conducted at Albacete AFB from 14-18 September 15, with the participation of the 4 EAG Eurofighter/Typhoon nations. 6 aircraft from ITA, UK and ESP; 7 Pilots, 4 Eng./Logistics Officers and 12 NCO aircraft Technicians took part in the exercise. Whilst the GAF could not provide aircraft, they were represented during the ground operations phase. Two EAG Permanent Staff Officers directed and controlled the exercise in coordination with host nation senior representatives. VOLCANEX ETIP LIVEX15 was conducted under the “Eurofight TA” scheme and concurrently with the TLP course to take advantage of the existing deployment. A total of 27 sorties of 30 planned were flown. The objectives of this exercise were focused on exercising platform interoperability for air and ground operations.

This exercise was the first of its kind and it is notable that all air and ground operations objectives were met. In the air operations domain, by following a bottom-up operator-led approach, pilots were able to plan and fly sorties with different profiles up to 4 ships and the production of a combined flying SOPs document. This document will provide the ability to work more effectively whilst undertaking joint combined training or operations.

The objectives for ground operations were successfully achieved and a National peculiar AGE ML1 familiarization revealed that a common use is possible with no major employment differences.

Overall, VOLCANEX LIVEX15 was successful and provided the building blocks for the ETIP to progress further in order to achieve greater levels of interoperability in air and ground operations. To ensure further improvements, EAG ETIP SOPs will need to be put into practice as much as possible on common events in order to further progress on more tactical employment in the future ETIP VOLCANEX events. Sharing information and getting familiar with each other ground operation procedure and AGE was extremely valuable and positively contributed to identify solutions that will be developed with nations’ airworthiness organizations to overcome the legal limitations on cross maintenance and peculiar AGE sharing. The recognition of other nation peculiar AGE ML1 will set the milestone for a more efficient and effective interoperability within the Eurofighter/Typhoon community allowing a significant reductionin logistic footprints for common deployments.

The appointments for 2016 will be the ETIP meeting in Moron AFB, hosted by the Spanish Air Force May 2016, the “VOLCANEX ETIP LIVEX16” in Albacete AB (ESP) in the second semester of 2016.

1 The Meeting was held with the participation of aircrew, flight safety officers and logisticians from the 4 EAG Typhoon nations and Austria.

R

Annual Review 2016

19

European Air Group

20

During the CIS meeting in November 14, the CIS SMEs stated that information and experiences collected by the Nations in the tactical CIS domain were not exploited fully because they were not shared between the EAG Nations. Even if we use different CIS systems there are a lot of commonalities as most of our CIS equipment is IP and/or NATO STANAGg based. So LI/LL from one Nation are beneficial to other EAG Nations as it will help them to prepare a better and more efficient CIS architecture and CIS deployment. The initial proposal was introduced by the BEL WG Member.

CIS Lessons Identified/ Lessons Learned (LI/LL)

A database to share CIS LI/LL has been created on the EAG Extranet to allow the CIS SMEs to directly add theirCIS LI/LL. The database is currently being populated and the collected CIS LI/LL will be exploited during the next CIS meeting to identify common and unresolved issues and the opportunity to try to find a multinational solution to them by organising specific meeting, bench tests and trials.

Deployable NavAids, RadarAids & ATC - TWR ManualDuring the CIS meeting held in London in March 2014, the ITA CIS SMEs proposed to create an EAG Manual concerning all the deployable NavAids and RadarAids used by the EAG Nations for deployment during exercises and operations. At a later stage, the mobile ATC towers was the first equipment to be added to the Manual.

The Manual contains all the relevant technical data aboutthe equipment and also information concerning transportability. This data and information can be effectively used by planners and technicians as a reference tool for all operations or exercises involving the EAG Nations.

The aim of the Manual is to help planners and technicians setting up a multinational deployable CIS support and/or exchange of support in the deployable NavAids, RadarAids & ATC – TWR domain among the EAG Nations. Moreover it will also improve the knowledge of each other capabilities in the domain of the deployable Communication and Navigation Systems (CNS) to achieve interoperability in a multinational environment.

Information collected from the Nations and the Manual (version 1.0) was published in December 2015.

Annual Review 2016

21

Steering Group and Working Group Meetings 2015The Annual Meeting of the European Air Group Steering Group held at Poggio Renatico on 8 July 2015Lieutenant General Pasquale Preziosa hosted the Chiefs of Air Staff of the European Air Group at Poggio Renatico, Italy, on 8 July 2015 for the annual European Air Group (EAG) Steering Group meeting.

Air Chief Marshal Sir Andrew Pulford RAF, in his role as Director of the European Air Group, was the Chairman of the meeting. The Chiefs of Air Staff received a review of the EAG’s busy year from the Deputy Director, Brigadier General Giacomo De Ponti ITAF, who highlighted some of the 22 key projects in which the EAG staff has been active.

Following the Steering Group, the EAG witnessed the fruition of two years of work when the European Personnel Recovery Centre (EPRC) was inaugurated in Poggio Renatico. The project to establish the EPRC was directed by the Steering Group in 2013 having concluded that the use of a single, combined and joint organisation providing a viable Personnel Recovery capability for the European nations would be necessary. The Centre is to be doctrinally joint, offering advice and support to all Services. The EPRC will provide the vehicle to train and educate, assist in doctrine development, identify lessons learned and seek to improve interoperability, whilst also acting as the joint hub for all international Personnel Recovery activities. The Centre will be an independent entity, located at Poggio Renatico and manned by 15 PR specialists.

The Steering Group was also informed of significant progress in many other areas of interoperability in Air

Power, in particular interoperability with the future combat environment across a broad spectrum of Air Power roles. One example is the EAG’s work to take forward interoperability between the members of the Eurofighter Typhoon community, with integration in tactics, techniques and procedures, including engineering and maintenance best practice. The EAG continues to manage the highly successful Advanced Aviation Medicine Course, and is the prime partner with NATO in shaping the concept for the Deployed Air Activation Modules initiative.

European Air Group Steering Group held at European Air Group Headquarters on 15 December 2015On 15 December 2015 the EAG Working Group met at the EAG HQ. Their objectives were to review progress and provide updates on the Tasks, Projects and Activities within the latest COS Report including, Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS), Interoperability of Future Combined Air Operations, Multinational Red Air, Air Cyber and Future VOLCANEX Opportunities. Additionally, the EAG Financial Budget for 2015 and 2016 was presented and approved.

European Air Group

22

Notes

Annual Review 2016

23

Notes

European Air Group

24

XXXX

EAG 2016Annual Review

European Air Group - Improved Capability Through Interoperability