France takes lead in NRF Air Component
On 1 January 2022, the Armée de l'Air et de l'Espace (AAE, French Air and Space Force) will take the command of the NATO Response Force (NRF)' air component. The certification phase of the NATO ended with the exercise Steadfast Jackal, which took place from 24 November to 9 December 2021 at Base Aerienne 942 Lyon-Mont Verdun (BA942).
It is the fifth time that France has taken the alert for the air component, but the first time that the French Armed Forces will lead two components at the same time (Land and Air). The Royal Navy (UK) commands the maritime component and Joint Force Command in Brunssum (Netherlands) provides the overall command of NRF 2022.
The NRF comprises the Very High Readiness Joint Task Force (VJTF) of which France will provide 7,700 soldiers, held on standby for 12 months to deploy on operations. A group of second and third echelon forces is planned with set-up times of 30 to 60 days. The decision to deploy the NRF is a political decision made by consensus, on a case-by-case basis, by all Allies in the North Atlantic Council, NATO's main political decision-making body.
France provides the Centre Air de planification et de conduite des opérations (CAPCO, Air Operations Planning and Control Centre) installed in Lyon-Mont Verdun, communications assets, and personnel to staff the JFC Air Component. Should the alert be triggered, the first echelon of intervention will consist of three Rafale fighters, three Mirage 2000Ds, a Caracal helicopter, a C160G Gabriel, and four transport aircraft within five days. Additional assets are provided by nations to allow a maximum of 200 sorties per day.
As of 1 January, if the NRF were to be triggered, we have the assurance that everyone will be able to respond, "concluded General Thomas, Joint Force Air Component Commander for NRF 2022 in Air Force Journal.
Photos by AAE