Ramstein Flag 2025: U.S. Air Forces in Europe Strengthen Warfighting and Readiness Published April 12, 2025 By Capt. Michael Hardy LEEUWARDEN AIR BASE, Netherlands -- NATO’s premier multi-domain tactical exercise, Ramstein Flag 2025, concluded April 11, reinforcing the alliance’s commitment to readiness, lethality, and integrated warfighting. Fifteen Allied nations trained in advanced warfighting capabilities such as agile combat employment, integrated air and missile defense, and counter anti-access/area denial operations. Flight operations provided forces with realistic, high-pressure training to push participants to integrate and operate across air, space, cyber, and electronic warfare domains to achieve air superiority. “We are here practicing today to ensure that if we need to gain air superiority, we have the capability to do it,” said General James Hecker, commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa and NATO Allied Air Command. An example during the exercise was a cross-servicing mission with U.S. Air Force and Royal Netherlands Air Force F-35 Lightning II aircraft. Both nations were refueled and serviced by crews from the opposite nation before being relaunched during counter anti-access/area denial trainings. This showcased the ability to operate as a cohesive force to sustain combat operations. Royal Netherlands Air Force Lieutenant General André Steur highlighted the exercise’s role in building NATO’s collective lethality, “The strength we create here at Ramstein Flag is that piece of the puzzle that enables us to fully interconnect with all the forces and be able to fight.” Aircraft and assets from USAFE-AFAFRICA that participated in RAFL25 included F-35A Lightning II fighters from the 48th Fighter Wing based at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, United Kingdom, KC-135R Stratotankers from the 100th Air Refueling Wing based at Royal Air Force Mildenhall, United Kingdom, and the 19th Electronic Warfare Squadron from the USAFE-AFAFRICA Warfare Center, Ramstein Air Base, Germany. As the host nation, the Netherlands showcased its robust capabilities by contributing F-35 Lightning IIs, MQ-9 Reapers, the NH90 helicopter, and the naval frigate HNLMS Tromp to the exercise. Participation in RAFL25 enhances NATO forces' ability to operate with maximum lethality in a full-spectrum conflict, ensuring that U.S. and NATO are prepared to respond decisively to any challenge, in any location, at any time. -30-