SOLBIATE OLONA, Italy – The Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR), General Alexus G. Grynkewich, visited the NATO Rapid Deployable Corps-Italy (NRDC-ITA) to mark the second anniversary of the Allied Reaction Force (ARF). The visit highlighted the ARF’s vital role.
“The Allied Reaction Force provides our defensive Alliance an incredibly flexible and rapidly deployable multi-domain capability on the land, at sea, in the air, or in space or cyberspace” said Grynkewich. “It also provides me the ability to rapidly reinforce NATO whenever needed, wherever needed, and with whatever is needed.”
During the visit, SACEUR received a briefing on the ARF’s activities, the experience it has gained and its future. Using SACEUR's priorities as a framework, the ARF Headquarters Commander outlined the main pillars of the ARF's activities.
First, SACEUR received an update on the development of the Prudent Pre-Planned Options (PPOs), which are designed to ensure the ARF maintains a high level of readiness and responsiveness. Since the beginning of the year, as part of the STEADFAST exercise series, the ARF has successfully conducted STEADFAST DART (STDT) and STEADFAST DETERRENCE (STDC), effectively integrating multinational capabilities, generating effects in support of the Joint Force Commands (JFCs), and providing SACEUR with options to generate effects where required.
The ARF Headquarters Commander also highlighted the importance of innovation and provided a demonstration on how his command is using NATO Maven Smart System, applied to manage dynamic targeting within a Joint Air-Ground Integration Centre (JAGIC).
“The benefit to the 19 contributing nations within this Corps-level military organisation in terms of innovation and modernisation, dispersed and expeditionary command and control, and more is unmatched within the Alliance” said Grynkewich.
SACEUR also inaugurated NRDC-ITA’s new Operations Centre, where the JAGIC was located. He noted how the recent expansion and modernisation of this key capability is further and tangible proof of Italy’s ongoing commitment to the ARF project and to NATO.