From September 9 to 21, twelve Allied nations joined the Netherland’s annual airborne exercise, called Falcon Leap, and trained cargo airdrop and paratrooper landing manoeuvres.

Exercises like Falcon Leap advance joint training objectives and build the foundation for future collective operations; they are a key enabler for NATO showcasing combined efforts and shared goals of the Alliance.

During the multinational two-week exercise, participants practiced dropping cargo using the Container Delivery System (CDS) and Army paratroopers landings over locations in the Netherlands and Belgium enhancing interoperability among Allies and honing common tactics, techniques and procedures as well as flying skills.

The exercise, led by the Royal Netherlands Air Force’s 11th Air Assault Brigade and the Air Mobility Command, brought together Allies Netherlands, Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Alongside Army paratroopers, nations deployed transport aircraft to the Air-Land Integration or ALI training: Dutch C-130H, American C-130J, British and German A-400M, Greek C-27J and C-130, Polish, Portuguese and Spanish C-295, and Romanian C-27J. Through these joint efforts, Falcon Leap contributes to the overall readiness and resilience of the Alliance and demonstrates the importance of interoperability between member nations promoting common tactics, techniques, and procedures for low-level flying, airdrop, and air landing operations. By training collaboratively with NATO personnel, equipment, and aircraft from various nations, exercises like Falcon Leap advance joint training objectives and build the foundation for future collective operations. Frequent training events with multinational participation, both on the ground and in the air, are a key enabler for NATO showcasing combined efforts and shared goals of the Alliance.