Solbiate Olona, Italy – 21 April 2026 – NATO Rapid Deployable Corps Italy (NRDC-ITA) hosted the Allied Reaction Force (ARF) Monthly Study Day at its Headquarters, bringing together personnel and experts to enhance shared situational awareness and operational readiness ahead of Mission Rehearsal Exercise Steadfast Deterrence 2026.
The Study Day offered an important forum to exchange views on the evolving character of modern warfare and the challenges that Allied forces are expected to face in increasingly complex operating environments. Discussions focused in particular on the growing role of uncrewed systems, including the employment of UAVs and their integration with UGVs, highlighting how these capabilities are reshaping the battlefield and influencing future operational concepts.
Participants also examined the persistent and evolving threat posed by ballistic missiles, as well as the rapid transformation of the electronic warfare domain. These topics underlined the importance of adapting command structures, procedures and capabilities to ensure that NATO forces remain agile, responsive and effective in contested and multi-domain scenarios.
During the Study Day, the Commander delivered an update on the main challenges facing the Command in the coming months, with particular emphasis on the preparation for Steadfast Deterrence 2026. In this context, he highlighted the importance of maintaining a high level of readiness, strengthening integration among components, and continuing to adapt to the evolving security environment.
Steadfast Deterrence 2026 will represent a key milestone in preparing command and staff elements to operate effectively in pre-crisis and vigilance scenarios, with a particular focus on the delivery effects across all dimensions, including the cognitive one, and the implementation of standardized, digitalized command and control procedures. These efforts are essential to ensuring a timely, coordinated and credible response to potential crises.
In this context, continued investment in technology, innovation and operational adaptation remains a critical enabler for maintaining NATO’s strategic edge and effectively countering emerging and future threats. The Allied Reaction Force therefore reaffirms its defensive posture, fully aligned with NATO’s core tasks within the framework of collective defence.