The official website of the North Atlantic Alliance has announced the successful completion of the large-scale, two-week exercise Ramstein Flag 26, organized by the Allied Air Command. The maneuvers spanned over 20 locations across three operational zones stretching from Norway to Spain, involving 18 NATO member states and more than 200 aircraft. During the exercise, the Allies executed over 1,000 combat sorties, 75 aerial refueling missions, and a series of dedicated reconnaissance and logistical tasks.

Particular emphasis was placed on practicing the concept of force dispersal. In Finland, aircraft, including American F-35B fighter jets, successfully landed on public highways, proving the Alliance's capability to operate effectively outside traditional, stationary airbases. Additionally, a major strategic milestone for Air Operations in the High North was achieved with the first-ever landing of an E-3A AWACS aircraft in Sweden.

Information and strategic support for the maneuvers were provided by RQ-4D Phoenix remotely piloted aircraft and the newly established Mission Operational Support Center. This framework enabled the seamless operational collection, analysis, and sharing of intelligence data between bases in Finland and Italy.

NATO leadership characterized Ramstein Flag 26 as the most ambitious iteration of the air exercise to date. The results demonstrated a high level of integration, the Allies' ability to rapidly adapt to challenging climatic conditions across vast distances, and their readiness to ensure credible collective defense amid the ongoing strengthening of the Alliance's European component.