NATO Allied Air Command – 22 April

Ramstein Flag 2026 – South

RAMSTEIN, Germany – Allied Air Command (AIRCOM) will conduct Ramstein Flag 2026 (RAFL26) from June 8 to June 19, 2026. Now in its third iteration, this large-scale, multi-domain exercise is designed to enhance the Alliance’s deterrence and collective defence. Since its inception in 2024, this year marks the first time AIRCOM will lead the entire exercise independently. Operations will take place simultaneously across Northern and Southern Europe within NATO’s Joint Operations Areas, combining live-fly missions with synthetic training.

“Ramstein Flag 2026 will operate from the northernmost parts of Norway to the southern reaches of Spain,” stated Lieutenant General Jason Hinds, Commander of Allied Air Command. “The exercise reflects our enduring commitment to deliver the Air and Space Power the Alliance needs every day. By focusing on current and future threats, improved tactics, and robust integration, we continue to strengthen our collective deterrence,” he added.

The Southern element of the exercise will be based at Albacete in Spain, home to the Tacticle Leadership Program (TLP) exercises. The expanded scale of RAFL26 demonstrates NATO’s commitment to countering modern and emerging threats through distributed operations. Hosted primarily by Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden, and Spain, the exercise involves 19 nations and over 15 operational locations. More than 150 Allied aircraft, including fighters, enablers, and NATO assets such as AWACS and RQ-4D, will conduct about 150 sorties per day.

Known participants as at 1 June 2026 –

Hellenic Air Force F-16C

Italian Air Force Tornados