Exercise Atlantic Trident

17-28 May 2021 at BA Mont-de-Marsan, France

Introduction

The Atlantic Trident exercise took place in France and in Europe for the first time from 17 to 28 May 2021 at Mont-de-Marsan Air Force Base. This exercise, organised by the French Air Forces Command provided the opportunity for the US Air Force, the UK Royal Air Force and the French Air and Space Force to operate and learn together. This triumvirate sits within a select group of Air Forces in the world capable of conducting all types of conventional air operations. With the most performant fighters in the world, the three air forces are part of the only nations able to activate a joint air force, which is capable of conducting high intensity missions behind enemy lines, without delay. Sixty aircraft were involved – amongt them 50 fighters. Assets such as the KC- 135 (FR, US) and the A330 tanker aircraft (FR, UK), and the E-3D Sentry (UK), E3-F (FR) aircraft accompanied them. Together, they participated in complex and realistic missions, facing the current challenges both of digitized airspaces and of the evolution of the global strategic context and enemy defences.

The Exercise and its issues

The Atlantic Trident exercise was born from a strategic partnership known as the Trilateral Strategic Initiative (TSI), concluded between the American, British and French Air Forces in 2010. The first two editions took place in Langley, Virginia in 2015 and 2017. Mont-de-Marsan AFB is a key French operational base, at the forefront of France’s capabilities in air combat, surface-to-air defence and innovation. As such, it was the ideal platform to host the third edition of this exercise. Halfway between a technological showcase and an operational challenge, this high-level exercise aimed to test and improve the interoperability of the three Air Forces and to strengthen the technical and tactical knowledge they have of one-another. They plan, develop and conduct combined raids, in opposition to an enemy force (Red Force) made up of Mirage 2000, Alphajet or French Rafale. To face the future threats, they got ready together to conduct high intensity combat; the goal requiring an optimal integration between each of these latest generation fighters. For the purpose of this exercise, a fictitious scenario was established. The Blue Force must therefore fulfil repeated attacks from the Red Force by air defence missions called Defence Counter Air (DCA) to protect an area or a territory. The final objective was to obtain air supremacy in order to be able V/2021 115 to neutralise the enemy threat by offensive in-depth air raids behind the battle lines.

The morning’s first round was devoted to a “Main Wave” with COMAO-type missions (Composite Air Operations). These huge missions featured simulated battles using all aircraft, which had distinct roles. Afternoons were dedicated to less complex missions with reduced participants called “Shadow Waves”. The different squadrons competed on various scenarios, in which the Airmen and their allies were allies or aggressors alternatively. At the head of these missions, pilots took turns to ensure the Mission Commander function, a leader of the air raid. From the operational command, an Airboss was going to host the scenarios thanks to a visualizstion of the tactical air situation in real time.

Presentation of “lead” units

The Rafale of the 30e Escadre de Chasse: The 30e Escadre de Chasse has been located at Mont de Marsan AFB since 2015. This unit is made up of 800 aviators and is outstanding due to its diverse range of missions and concurrent commitments. Its Rafale aircraft are currently engaged in the Middle East as part of the ‘Chammal’ operation and in the French area for the air policing missions (permanent air safety posture) but also participates in major exercises in France or abroad. The 30th Fighter Wing includes operational, maintenance, management and experimentation squadrons. The sharp end of the 30th Fighter Wing is the F3-R Rafale, which was on the front line of the Atlantic Trident exercise. With its array of technical improvements, the F3-R Rafale standard is a real revolution. Integration of the Meteor air-to-air longrange missile, Talios laser designation pod increasing detection and identification target capabilities or even air-to-ground optimised weaponry. These new capabilities increase the multi-functionality of this stateof- the art fighter. They allow it to carry out all the missions that may be entrusted to the French Air and Space Force, that is to say the airborne component of nuclear deterrence, air defence, in-the-depth strike at any time or support to on the ground troops. 102 two-seater Rafale B and singleseater Rafale C are currently being operated in the French Air and Space Force. The target at 129 Rafale provided for by the military planning law for 2025 is a key issue in order to have a critical mass of necessary aircraft to carry out all of the Air Force missions. 388th Fighter Wing and USAF F-35: The primary mission of the 388th Fighter Wing is to maintain combat readiness to deploy, employ, and sustain F-35A Lightning II aircraft worldwide in support of the national defence. The 388th FW is assigned to Air Combat Command, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, and below that, Fifteenth Air Force, Shaw Air Force Base, S.C. ACC’s mission is to provide a combat air force among the best in the world, delivering rapid, decisive air power, anytime, anywhere. There are approximately 2,000 airmen and civilian professionals assigned to the 388th FW. The wing employs 78 F-35A Lightning IIs, the Air Force’s most advanced multi-role fighter aircraft. The F-35A Lightning II is the US Air Force’s latest fifth generation fighter. It will replace the US Air Force’s aging fleet of F-16 Fighting Falcons and A-10 Thunderbolt II’s, which have been the primary fighter aircraft for more than 20 years, and bring with it an enhanced capability to survive in the advanced threat environment in which it was designed to operate. With its aerodynamic performance and advanced integrated avionics, the F-35A will provide next-generation stealth, enhanced situational awareness, and reduced vulnerability for the United States and allied nations. The F-35B Lightning II is the Marine Corps variant of the Joint Strike Fighter and features a vertical lift fan and pivoting engine nozzle to deliver vertical landing and short takeoff capability to expeditionary airfields. The F-35 will replace AV-8B Harrier IIs in the Marine Corps inventory.

British Royal Air Force F-35 and Typhoon: Royal Air Force assets involved in the war fighting element of the exercise include Typhoons from XI (F) Squadron normally based on Coningsby and significantly, F35Bs flying off the UK’s new Aircraft Carrier, HMS Queen Elizabeth. The Carrier is at the heart of Carrier Strike Group 21 which was in waters off France at the time of the exercise. The RAF F35 Lightning Jets flying from the Carrier are flown by 617 (Dambusters) Squadron which is the first fighter unit to undertake an operational Carrier Strike deployment since 2010. Lightning is a multi-role machine capable of conducting missions including air-to-surface, electronic warfare, intelligence gathering and air-toair simultaneously. The plane combines cutting edge sensors and mission systems with stealth technology which enables it to operate undetected in hostile airspace. The UK’s and USMC F-35B is of course a short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) fighter jet; the world’s first supersonic STOVL aircraft and as well as flying from the new QE Class carriers, the UK plane has the ability to operate from land bases and remote locations, providing versatility that will revolutionise the UK’s expeditionary combat power.

A rich tactical environment

A prime training area, offers many advantages in terms of the Marsan) quality and realism of major Air Force exercises: 3600 metres major aeronautical platform - runway, capacity for large aircraft (tactical or strategic transport aircrafts), modern and colocated control units, etc; location of the 30th and its Fighter Wing Rafale; (direct access to the very adapted airspaces - low altitude network, proximity to Captieux shooting range, maritime and mountainous areas, combat aeras nearby). Designed to cover a wide range of skills in order to meet many operational preparation objectives, Exercise Atlantic Trident took place mainly in (Massif Central, Southwest three training areas of France). Some squadrons participated in air missions from their home bases, a format which has become common practice for the Atlantic Trident exercise and made possible by the implementation of “Airboss”. Joint briefings/debriefings were enhanced by the presence of collaborative tools provided by the Mont-de-Marsan Air Expertise Centre, acting like a true air combat referee in charge of organising the various fights and engagements in the area. Throughout the exercise, the use of Link 16 is common.

Distributed mission operations centre

Created in 2018 under the name DMOC “Distributed Mission Operations Center”, the Centre Expert du Combat Collaboratif (CECC) provides a range of high valueadded services of support the daily operational readiness to the forces. The deployment of the LVC16 “Live Virtual Constructive Link 16”, an innovative tool called “Jeannette”, which is considered as the heart of this centre, provides to frontline forces and air operation crews the ability to create complex training scenarios, animation, simulation and capitalisation of lessons during training slots in France. These services are delivered both to the benefit of the “Live” and in the future to distributed simulation federations “Virtual”.

High-tech collaborative tools Atlantic

Trident is enabled by the use of ‘TacView’ collaborative tools with many crews operating from software their home air base. Indeed, this specific interconnected software allows the rendering and debriefing of missions by videoconferencing. Inspired by civil software from the world of video games, it allows pilots to debrief their training sessions by screening all actions performed. ‘TacView’ renders all their actions and acting like a true air combat referee in charge of organising the various fights and engagements in the area. Throughout the exercise, the use of Link 16 is common.

Distributed mission operations centre

Created in 2018 under the name DMOC “Distributed Mission Operations Center”, the Centre Expert du Combat Collaboratif (CECC) provides a range of high valueadded services of support the daily operational readiness to the forces. The deployment of the LVC16 “Live Virtual Constructive Link 16”, an innovative tool called “Jeannette”, which is considered as the heart of this centre, provides to frontline frontline forces and air operation crews the ability to create complex training scenarios, animation, simulation and capitalisation of lessons during training slots in France. These services are delivered both to the benefit of the “Live” and in the future to distributed simulation federations “Virtual”.

High-tech collaborative tools

Atlantic Trident is enabled by the use of ‘TacView’ collaborative tools with many crews operating from software their home air base. Indeed, this specific interconnected software allows the rendering and debriefing of missions by videoconferencing. Inspired by civil software from the world of video games, it allows pilots to debrief their training sessions by screening all actions performed. ‘TacView’ renders all their actions and trajectories in three dimensions. They are shared with all participants simultaneously by network with commentary by the mission’s ‘Airboss’. The latter, coordinator and animator of the air missions, plays the manager role. During the mission, he is located in a dedicated room. Thus, he can use the ‘Jeannette’ software suite the follow the actions of the various participants in real time. The software receives and merges on a single screen the radar tracks and those related to the link 16. ‘Jeannette’ also combines real and simulated resources by joining aircraft in flight and virtual runways. With the help of range Training Officers, he leads the mission in real time for friendly or enemy forces. These collaborative tools connect all the players on COMAO missions. They allow crews to have/make the replay as efficient as possible a common vision, exchange and debrief in order to gain in realism and leads to a highly beneficial exercise. These revolutionary programmes have the added extra benefit to the advanced training. These technological developments have the advantage to make aircraft delocalisation possible, thus ensuring a considerable logistical and economic gain.

 Text: Armée de l’Air et Espace Translation: Joris van Boven and Alex van Noije

Photo credits:

US Air Force photos of F-35s: USAF Staff Sgt. Alexander Cook, 39th Air Base Wing Public Affairs USMC photos on deck of the Queen Elisabeth II: USMC Lt Zachary Bodner USMC F-35s photos air-air (from a RAF A330 Voyager): Royal Air Force Corporal Cathy Sharples, RAF Media Reserves, courtesy of 3 Marine Air Wing Armee de l’Air photos have the copyright in the photos: Antony Jeuland, Emma le Rouzic