Exercise Baltic Operations 2023 kicks off in the Baltic Sea
8:05 AM6/5/2023
Nineteen NATO Allies, one NATO partner nation, 50 ships, more than 45 aircraft, and approximately 6,000 personnel kicked off the 52nd iteration of Baltic Operations 2023 in Tallinn, Estonia, June 4, 2023.
U.S. European Command to Participate in Helsinki Commission Field Hearing
1:54 PM7/1/2019
Participation in the field hearing is another example of the U.S.’s strong commitment to security in the Baltic Sea region and unwavering support to our Allies and partners
U.S. Air Force Senior Airmen Blake Nickells, 2nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron assistant dedicated crew chief, waits out a storm while conducting pre-flight inspections on a B-52H Stratofortress at Royal Air Force Fairford, U.K., June 6, 2017. Exercises such as BALTOPS enable bomber crews to maintain a high state of readiness and proficiency and validate the bomber’s always-ready global strike capability. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Randahl J. Jenson)
A B-52H Stratofortress from Barksdale Air Force Base, La., lifts off the runway at Royal Air Force Fairford, U.K., June 6, 2017. Crew members aboard B-52s will participate in BALTOPS, an annual, multinational, maritime-focused exercise involving NATO allies and partner nations. BALTOPS provides bomber crews with opportunities to integrate capabilities with regional partners and is part of the United States’ commitment to supporting global security. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Randahl J. Jenson)
U.S. Air Force Senior Airmen Blake Nickells, right, and Alexander Dones, 2nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron assistant dedicated crew chiefs, conduct pre-flight inspections on a B-52H Stratofortress at RAF Fairford, U.K., June 6, 2017. Exercises such as BALTOPS enable bomber crews to maintain a high state of readiness and proficiency and validate the bomber’s always-ready global strike capability. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Randahl J. Jenson)
U.S. Air Force Senior Airmen Blake Nickells, left, and Alexander Dones, 2nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron assistant dedicated crew chiefs, conduct preflight inspections on a B-52H Stratofortress at Royal Air Force Fairford, U.K., June 6, 2017. Exercises such as BALTOPS enable bomber crews to maintain a high state of readiness and proficiency and validate the bomber’s always-ready global strike capability. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Randahl J. Jenson)
U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Julian Tisdale, 2nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron weapons load crew member, prepares inert, (non-explosive) Quick Strike MK 62 mines to be loaded into a B-52H Stratofortress at Royal Air Force Fairford, U.K., June 5, 2017. Bomber crews are participating in BALTOPS 2017, an annual, multinational, maritime-focused exercise designed to strengthen interoperability and cohesiveness between NATO allies and partnered nations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Randahl J. Jenson)
U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Julian Tisdale, 2nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron load crew team member, inspects inert, (non-explosive) Quick Strike MK 62 mines at Royal Air Force Fairford, U.K., June 5, 2017. Bomber crews are participating in BALTOPS 2017, an annual, multinational, maritime-focused exercise designed to strengthen interoperability and cohesiveness between NATO allies and partnered nations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Randahl J. Jenson)
U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Julian Tisdale, 2nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron load crew team member, releases a strap on an inert, (non-explosive) Quick Strike MK 62 mine at Royal Air Force Fairford, U.K., June 5, 2017. Bomber crews are participating in BALTOPS 2017, an annual, multinational, maritime-focused exercise designed to strengthen interoperability and cohesiveness between NATO allies and partnered nations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Randahl J. Jenson)
A B-52H Stratofortress from Barksdale Air Force Base, La., departs RAF Fairford, U.K., June 6, 2017 in support of Baltic Operations. BALTOPS provides an opportunity to exercise the increased joint capabilities of NATO and partner forces. The exercise will enable them to enhance their combat readiness so that, collectively, NATO can immediately respond to a range of real-world situations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Randahl J. Jenson)
U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Michael Ruiz, left, and Airman 1st Class Nathaniel Martin, 2nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron weapons load crew members, transport an inert, (non-explosive) Quick Strike MK 62 mine into the bomb bay of a B-52H Stratofortress at RAF Fairford, England, June 5, 2017. Bomber crews participated in BALTOPS 2017, an annual, multinational, maritime-focused exercise designed to strengthen interoperability and cohesiveness between NATO allies and partnered nations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Randahl J. Jenson)
U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Michael Ruiz, left, and Airman 1st Class Nathaniel Martin, 2nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron weapons load crew members, load inert, (non-explosive) Quick Strike MK 62 mines into a B-52 Stratofortress at Royal Air Force Fairford, June 5, 2017. Bomber crews are participating in BALTOPS 2017, an annual, multinational, maritime-focused exercise designed to strengthen interoperability and cohesiveness between NATO allies and partnered nations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Randahl J. Jenson)
The bombers are participating in the 45th edition of BALTOPS exercise which provides an opportunity for bomber crews to integrate with NATO allies and partner nations between June 1 and 16
BALTIC SEA (June 9, 2016) A United States Air Force B52 Stratofortress leads a formation of aircraft including two Polish air force F16 Fighting Falcons, four U.S. Air Force F16 Fighting Falcons, two German Eurofighter Typhoons and four Swedish Gripens over the Baltic Sea, June 9, 2016. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Erin Babis)
Staff Sgt. John Martin, 127th Civil Engineering Squadron pavements and construction supervisor and Tech. Sgt. Ed Hirth, 127th CES firefighter, apply a mud adhesive to rock wool insulation at a kindergarten in Silmala, Latvia on June 23, 2016. The school is currently undergoing a Humanitarian-civic assistance project to provide the school with up to date renovations. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Senior Airman Ryan Zeski)
Tech. Sgt. Derek Leppek, 127th Civil Engineering Squadron structures supervisor, cuts into the concrete around a window of a kindergarten school in Silmala, Latvia on June 19, 2016. The school is undergoing construction as part of the U.S. European Command’s Humanitarian Civic-Assistance project. United States and Latvian military engineers are working together to complete the project. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Senior Airman Ryan Zeski)
Staff Sgt. Amanda Turnwald, 127th Civil Engineering Squadron engineering assistant, marks a measurement on a piece of rock wool insulation at a kindergarten in Silmala, Latvia on June 23, 2016. The school is currently undergoing a Humanitarian-civic assistance project to provide the school with up to date renovations. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Senior Airman Ryan Zeski)
Private First Class Rihards Rudzitis, Latvian National Armed Forces, works on the side of a kindergarten building in Silmala, Latvia on June 19, 2016. The school is undergoing construction as part of the U.S. European Command’s Humanitarian Civic-Assistance project. United States and Latvian military engineers are working together to complete the project. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Senior Airman Ryan Zeski)
An overall view of the kindergarten in Silmala, Latvia that is currently undergoing renovations on June 18, 2016. The school’s renovations are part of a Humanitarian-Civic Assistance project. The project provides training opportunities for the United States and Latvian soldiers as well as a benefit for the local community. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Senior Airman Ryan Zeski)
Tech. Sgt. Ken Wilson, 127th Civil Engineering Squadron HVAC supervisor and Staff Sgt. Jared Brunsen, 127th CES HVAC expert, cut sheet plastic at a kindergarten in Silmala, Latvia on June 18, 2016. The school’s renovations are part of a Humanitarian-Civic Assistance project. The project provides training opportunities for the United States and Latvian soldiers as well as a benefit for the local community. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Senior Airman Ryan Zeski)
Corporal Anders Bukovskis, Latvian National Armed Forces and Staff Sgt. Jarriel Brown, 127th Civil Engineering Squadron electrical journeymen, work on renovations for a kindergarten in Silmala, Latvia on June 18, 2016. The school’s renovations are part of a Humanitarian-Civic Assistance project. The project provides training opportunities for the United States and Latvian soldiers as well as a benefit for the local community. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Senior Airman Ryan Zeski)
Staff Sgt. Amanda Turnwald, 127th Civil Engineering Squadron engineering assistant, marks a measurement on a piece of rock wool insulation at a kindergarten in Silmala, Latvia on June 23, 2016. The school is currently undergoing a Humanitarian-civic assistance project to provide the school with up to date renovations. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Senior Airman Ryan Zeski)
U.S. Army soldiers discuss field communications techniques and equipment with sailors aboard USS San Antonio LPD-17 June 12, during Baltic Operations 2015 (BALTOPS). BALTOPS is an annual multinational exercise designed to enhance flexibility and interoperability, as well as demonstrate resolve among allied and partnered forces to defend the Baltic region. (Photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Adam C. Stapleton.)
Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician 3rd Class David Hubbard, from Huntington Station, N.Y., and assigned to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit (EODMU) 8, conducts pre-dive checks prior to participating in mine countermeasure operations in the Baltic Sea off the coast of Estonia, May 25, during Exercise Open Spirit 2015. EODMU 8 is working in conjunction with EOD teams from Estonia, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Sweden to dispose of unexploded ordnance originating from World War II. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Patrick A. Ratcliff/ Released)
