Stavanger, 4 December 2025 – The STEADFAST DAGGER (STDA) 2025 exercise, the NATO Joint Warfare Centre’s (JWC) main training event designed to test and validate the capabilities of the upcoming components of the Allied Reaction Force (ARF), has concluded in Norway. Within the NATO Force Model, the ARF is NATO’s high-readiness force, led by the NATO Rapid Deployable Corps – Italy (NRDC-ITA) since July 2024.
The computer-assisted command post exercise involved approximately 1200 military and civilian personnel across multiple European locations, with the aim of enhancing the ARF’s ability to operate in a complex scenario characterized by a fragile safety and security environment exacerbated by terrorism threat. The STDA25 offered the opportunity to verify the capabilities to orchestrate Component Commands to address multi-domain and multi-dimension challenges in close coordination with the host nations and other relevant actors (as United Nations and the European Union), to tackle the conditions conducive to the spread of terrorism.
Key components participating in the exercise included the French 3rd Division as Land Component Command, the UK Strike Force as Maritime Component Command, the UK Special Operations Component Command, the French Joint Force Air Component Command and the French Joint Logistic Support Group.
ARF is an innovation platform for NATO and nations receiving the most advanced systems that the Alliance will adopt in the next future. In light of this, a distinctive element of the 2025 edition was the strong emphasis on transformation, technological innovation, interconnectivity, and digitalization.
Of particular significance was the employment of a distributed command structure, with part of the ARF HQ deployed at JWC and another part fully functioning at the headquarters in Solbiate Olona. This interconnected and resilient model ensured a continuous command and control capability, enabling rapid decision-making, uninterrupted operational tempo, and maximum responsiveness.
These activities were supported by the integrated use of modern Command and Control (C2) platforms and NATO’s advanced communications systems, including, SitaWare, TOPFAS, LOGFAS and other NATO FAS. These tools enabled the effective synchronization of effects across domains and maintained an accurate and constantly updated common operational picture.
The STEADFAST DAGGER 2025 (STDA25) once again proved to be a fundamental proving ground for NATO, strengthening the readiness and capability of the ARF to operate as a fully interoperable joint force, ready to deploy at very short notice to address the full spectrum of contemporary crises confirming again how “we are stronger together”.