NATO update

 

US bomber aircraft arrive in Black Sea region For the first time, US strategic bomber aircraft have deployed to Romania. Two US Air Force B-52H Stratofortress aircraft have arrived at the Mihail Kogălniceanu Air Base in Romania. They’ll be undertaking flying missions with NATO Allies and Partners to synchronise capabilities, tactics and procedures. The B-52Hs have deployed from Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana in the United States. The US routinely demonstrates its commitment to NATO Allies and Partners through Bomber Task Force missions, providing assurance and contributing to deterrence, particularly along NATO’s eastern flank.  Click here to download the b-roll. Footage includes various shots of a B-52H Stratofortress aircraft on the tarmac and taking off at the air base in Romania, as well as an interview with Lieutenant Colonel Jared Patterson, 20th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron Commander. Ukrainian tankers train in Poland with NATO Allies At a military training facility in Poland, Ukrainian tankers are taught the use and maintenance of the powerful Leopard 2A4 main battle tank by instructors from NATO Allies Poland and Norway. The Leopard 2A4 main battle tank is the mainstay of many NATO armies, including Norway and Poland, whose instructors aim to give the Ukrainian trainees the ability to become more self-sufficient in their training. The training is part of the European Union Military Assistance Mission in support of Ukraine (EUMAM UA) and is designed to support Ukraine’s Army in its defence against Russia. NATO Allies continue to step up their support, having pledged at the Washington Summit minimum baseline of 40 billion euros in military aid for Ukraine within the next year. Click here to download the video. You can also watch the video on YouTube.

2 August 2024 Update Meet Master Sergeant Violeta Nikonovė, who has jumped from a plane more than 5,000 times In 1985, at the age of 15, Violeta Nikonovė jumped out of a plane for the first time. Seven years later, she was recruited to join the paratrooper branch of the Lithuanian Armed Forces. Now, almost 40 years and over 5,000 jumps later, Master Sergeant Nikonovė serves as a senior instructor at the Lithuanian Armed Forces’ Parachute Training Centre. We caught up with Violeta to ask about her experience as a “Parachute Master” and what it means to her to train the next generation of paratroopers. Read more Finnish jets return home following first deployment under NATO's Air Policing mission in Romania Finnish jets returned home on 29 July, 2024, concluding first deployment under NATO’s Air Policing and Air Shielding mission in Romania. (Story courtesy of Allied Air Command) Read more Allies continue to safeguard NATO skies as Italy take over Baltic Air Policing in Lithuania Commitment to NATO’s Baltic Air Policing mission continues as outgoing air force detachments hand over the responsibility to incoming Allies at Šiauliai Air Force Base, Lithuania. (Story courtesy of Allied Air Command) Read more Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 Concludes interactions with the Wasp Amphibious Ready Group SNMG2 Flagship, HMCS Charlottetown concluded interactions with the Wasp Amphibious Ready Group in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. (Story courtesy of Allied Maritime Command) Read more Ukrainian tankers train in Poland with NATO Allies At a military training facility in Poland, Ukrainian tankers are taught the use and maintenance of the powerful Leopard 2A4 main battle tank by instructors from NATO Allies Poland and Norway. Watch Video THIS WEEK IN PICTURES

NATO HQ, Blvd Leopold III 1110 Brussels, Belgium