Brilliant Arrow 2017 was the Luftwaffe’s largest exercise of the year. Joris van Boven and Alex van Noye were at Wittmund to see the action.
EXERCISE REPORT
Brilliant Arrow 2017
The aim of Brilliant Arrow 2017 (BRAW17) was to obtain NATO Response Force (NRF) certification for Germany’s Joint Force Air Component Command (JFAC HQ DEU) based in Kalkar, which assumes command-and-control responsibility for the NRF next year. The exercise lasted from September 11 to 22 and took place exclusively in northern Germany. Brilliant Arrow is designed to train NATO air forces that don’t routinely work together to share their experiences and skills in combined air operations. It ensures the participating units and HQ Allied Air Command (HQ AIRCOM) are ready to react in defence of the NATO region and its interests once JFAC HQ DEU goes on standby for the mission from 2018.
