Nato airpower boosted with high-end Triton surveillance UAVs among new capabilities
· Forces NewsFour Nato countries have announced that they will purchase up to five Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton high-altitude, long-endurance uncrewed aircraft to improve the alliance's Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Force.
Denmark, Finland, Germany and Norway made the announcement at the Nato Summit Defence Industry Forum in Ankara in Turkey.
Nato members also announced their plans across a number of other areas, including counter-drone capabilities and a new Airborne Warning and Control System.
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The Triton
The new aircraft will complement the Alliance Ground Surveillance (AGS) Fleet that operates from Sigonella Air Base in Italy.
Triton aircraft are specifically designed for maritime surveillance, and the aircraft can manage 24-hour flights at an altitude of over 15km (9.3 miles).
The aircraft, which has a wingspan of 130ft, is equipped with long-range sensors, meaning Nato will be able to detect threats early and support operations in demanding environments such as the Arctic and the High North.
The 32-member alliance said Northrop Grumman will build the aircraft, while Airbus Defence & Space and other European companies will provide the ground segment, data management services, command and control, infrastructure and mission support.
Nato's ISR, which was created in 2015, is tasked with giving intelligence to Nato leaders through constant surveillance on land and at sea.
It is involved in several mission types, including the protection of ground forces, border control, maritime security, counter-terrorism, crisis management and humanitarian aid after natural disasters.
Counter-drone capabilities
Alongside the new Triton aircraft, the allies revealed that more than £30bn ($40bn) will be directed towards counter-drone capabilities over the next five years.
The allies said they would aim to train five times as many drone operators by the end of 2027.
To help with the procurement of the drones, the alliance has said it will create a counter-drone marketplace to ensure the drones can be deployed with Nato militaries.
It follows the news that RAF bases are being monitored and spied on by Russian drones slipping through UK air defences.
The International Institute for Strategic Studies found that just under half of the incidents (48%) studied occurred over military facilities.
"Drones have fundamentally altered the character of modern warfare and become a decisive factor on the battlefield," Nato said.
"Effective defence relies on the ability to rapidly detect, identify and neutralise drones."
The alliance, which is based in Brussels, will use its multinational Flight Training Europe (NFTE) initiative to help with the drone training.
The NFTE provides training to all aircrew, and this will be expanded to include training for drone operators.
By engaging in the initiative, the countries can utilise the NFTE's 16 flight centres based in eight countries.
Airborne Warning and Control System
Eleven countries have unveiled their joint procurement of Saab's GlobalEye aircraft as Nato's new Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS).
The Saab GlobalEye aircraft will take over from the ageing Boeing E-3 fleet.
The aircraft will provide advanced, multi-domain surveillance across air, land and sea.
GlobalEye will be used to track and follow complex threats, including drone swarms, ballistic missiles and cruise missiles.
Eight countries have launched a new cooperative project to field airborne early warning capabilities to meet their national requirements.
The countries involved in the procurement include Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Romania and Sweden.
Turkey previously held the Nato Summit in Istanbul in 2004. The summits bring together allied leaders to take decisions on important issues facing the alliance.