It ended in Stavanger, Norway, at the joint warfare centre (JWC) of NATO, the executive phase of the exercise “Steadfast Dagger 2024”, aimed at testing the capabilities of the “Vittorio Veneto” division, as the land component (Land Component Command) for 2025, in applying the NATO procedures of theallied reaction force (ARF), a device capable of projecting itself very quickly into a potential crisis scenario and coordinating the operations of the dependent components in a multi-domain context (land, sea, air, space and cyber).
During the exercise, NRDC-ITA planned and conducted military operations in a fictitious and complex non-Article 5 crisis scenario, where it operated in close coordination with local institutions and consolidated command and control procedures with dependent Units such as the joint logistics support group (JLSG), the CBRN Task Force, the special operation component command (SOCC), the maritime, air, cyber and space component command with a clear multinational, joint and multi-domain approach.
Over 700 soldiers were involved, in various European locations, belonging to numerous contributing nations, demonstrating a synergy characterised by the use of personnel from the Armed Forces (Army, Navy, Air Force and Carabinieri) with the participation of other Alliance entities in compliance with the strategic guidelines issued for the conduct of NATO operations.
In particular, the exercises focused on the effectiveness of the interaction between the tactical, operational and strategic levels through the reaction to multiple activations in all domains, useful for improving the use of procedures and specific knowledge necessary for an effective response to the crisis in close coordination with the institutions of the host country.
The activity has developed in particular some relevant themes, such as the analysis of the strategic criticalities linked to the development of communication campaigns aimed at countering any form of propaganda activity by the adversary aimed at damaging the image and the work of the ARF, the response to the threat posed by radiological disposal device (RDD), cyber attacks, firefights, counter-piracy, protection of civilians in the area of operation, protection of cultural heritage, air operations.
The multinational staff, therefore, provided an essential impetus to the Alliance's transformation policies, positioning itself as a forerunner in the promotion and adoption of innovative Command and Control solutions and procedures, testing their effectiveness.
The ARF is a central component of the new NATO force model which supports the concept of “Deterrence” and “Defence” of the Euro-Atlantic Area (DDA) and has been designed to be complementary to the regional plans of NATO agreed by all allies at the Vilnius summit.
