U.S.-British-French Air Combat Exercise Switched to Europe for the First Time
The third iteration of Exercise Atlantic Trident began on May 17 and will continue to May 28. It includes fighter jets from the U.S., Britain and France participating in what NATO terms simulated high-spectrum, high-intensity combat operations.
The U.S. is supplying F-35s and F-22s, Britain Typhoons and France Rafale warplanes. The F-35 Lightning II is a stealth multirole combat aircraft that can perform strike missions. The F-22 Raptor is also a fifth-generation stealth fighter.
The two previous Atlantic Trident exercises were held at the Langley Air Force Base in Virginia. As part of moving military personnel and equipment closer to likely battlefields – meaning the borders of Russia – this year’s exercise is being held in Europe, at Air Base 118 in Mont-de-Marsan, France. The exercise is integrated into the Trilateral Strategic Initiative which the U.S., British and French air forces established