Story and photos by Senior Airman Tabatha Chapman
86th Airlift Wing February 14, 2025
An F-35A Lightning II assigned to the Royal Netherlands Air Force takes off during exercise Spartan Lightning at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, Feb. 7, 2025. F-35 aircraft from U.S. and Dutch air forces were used to achieve multiple learning objectives including maintenance interoperability between NATO Allies and partners. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Dylan Myers)
Service members from the U.S., Royal Norwegian and the Royal Netherlands Air Force showcased readiness, interoperability and maintenance proficiency during Spartan Lightning at Ramstein Air Base, Feb. 6-7.
A total of seven F-35A Lightning II aircraft participated in the exercise, with pilots and maintainers represented from U.S., Norwegian, and Dutch air forces. In addition to hands-on training, simulated combat scenarios were offered to the F-35 pilots to achieve learning objectives pertaining to offensive and defensive counter air missions.
“This Spartan Lightning iteration was the first of its kind because we flew in seven F-35s to Ramstein for the pilots to participate in the simulator training and for the maintenance personnel to participate in cross-servicing of each other’s airplanes,” said Lt. Col. Jared Marvin, 5th Combat Training Squadron D Flight commander.
Royal Norwegian Air Force Wing Sergeant Arne,132 Air Wing F-35 maintenance squadron technician, checks servicing levels during exercise Spartan Lightning at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, Feb. 7, 2025. Throughout the exercise, maintainers from the U.S., Royal Norwegian and Royal Netherlands Air Force coordinated their efforts and experienced one another’s processes and procedures for aircraft maintenance. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Tabatha Chapman)
Experts providing F-35 tactics and intelligence subject matter experts facilitating mission planning environments executed scenarios during the simulations. This allows the participants to leverage their training to help them create tactical solutions and exercise eight ship operations, Marvin explained.
Spartan Lightning has been primarily a simulated training event until this year with the fly in as a new concept to the exercise. Having F-35s physically present allowed for integrated maintenance and communication between NATO Allies and partners to play out in real time.
U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Blake Ferguson, 48th Equipment Maintenance Squadron low observable craftsman and Royal Norwegian Air Force Specialist Mats, 132 Air Wing F-35 maintenance squadron crew chief, go over post F-35A Lightning II landing checks during Spartan Lightning at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, Feb. 7, 2025. Exercises like these create strategic training environments with our NATO Allies and partners and develop skills in advanced scenarios. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Tabatha Chapman)
“We wanted to focus on learning the differences and similarities between how each of our NATO Allies and partners accomplishes aircraft maintenance, with the ultimate goal being to support Agile Combat Employment objectives,” said Master Sgt. Chris Bryant, 495th Fighter Generation Squadron avionics section chief from RAF Lakenheath, United Kingdom. “This way we can have any of our allies and partners send their fighter aircraft and pilots to locations around the NATO theater and have the confidence that everyone is on the same page and the mission can continue to run smoothly.”
Exercises like Spartan Lightning create the space for countries with F-35s to work hand-in-hand to solve tactical problems, create connections between countries to solve future problems, and learn emerging baseline tactics to bring back to their countries so if F-35s are employed, they will seamlessly work together.
Royal Netherlands Air Force Sergeant Major Klaas, 322 Squadron supervisor, and Royal Netherlands Air Force 1st Lt. Quinten, 322 Squadron maintenance officer, carries aircraft covers and nozzle protectors during exercise Spartan Lightning at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, Feb. 7, 2025. Throughout the exercise, maintainers from U.S., Norwegian and Dutch air forces coordinated their efforts and experienced one another’s tactics, techniques and procedures for aircraft maintenance. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Tabatha Chapman)
U.S. Air Force Capt. Samantha Vernon, 48th Fighter Wing F-35A Lighting II pilot participates in simulation training during exercise Spartan Lightning at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, Feb. 8, 2025. A total of seven F-35A Lightning II aircraft participated in the exercise, with pilots and maintainers represented from the U.S., Royal Norwegian and the Royal Netherlands Air Force. In addition to hands-on training, instructors offered simulated combat scenarios to the F-35 pilots to achieve learning objectives pertaining to offensive and defensive counter air missions. (U.S. Air Force courtesy photo)
Royal Norwegian Air Force Wing Sergeant Arne, 132 Air Wing F-35 maintenance squadron technician and Royal Norwegian Air Force Specialist Mats, 132 Air Wing F-35 maintenance squadron crew chief, refuel an F-35A Lightning II during Spartan Lightning at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, Feb. 7, 2025. Throughout the exercise, maintainers from U.S., Norwegian and Dutch air forces coordinated their efforts and experienced one another’s tactics, techniques and procedures for aircraft maintenance. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Tabatha Chapman)
Twitter
Facebook
