AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy -- Airmen and U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons assigned to the 510th Fighter Squadron, 31st Fighter Wing, Aviano Air Base, Italy, are participating in exercise Agile Fury Mar. 8-12, 2021, with the 52nd Fighter Wing, 435th Air Ground Operations Wing, and allies from the German air force’s 74th Tactical Air Force Wing.
The 510th FS F-16s took off for Agile Fury on Mar. 8 as part of an overall ACE dispersal exercise which also included F-16s with the 555th Fighter Squadron and HH-60 Pave Hawks from the 56th Rescue Squadron. All the aircraft were dispersed to several locations throughout Italy and Germany for various training opportunities.
During exercise Agile Fury, F-16s with the 510th FS and 480th FS are executing joint close air support training with German Eurofighter Typhoons from the 74th Tactical Air Force Wing.
On the ground, joint terminal attack controllers from the 2nd Air Support Operations Squadron and the 4th Combat Training Squadron are working with their German counterparts to support the CAS exercise.
“What I’m really excited for with Agile Fury is I get to work with our European partners,” said U.S. Air Force Capt. Kyle Rasmussen, 510th FS pilot and assistant chief of weapons. “I actually went to pilot training with a few of the German Eurofighter pilots participating in the exercise and it’s been a good opportunity to get to interact and work with those guys again.”
The exercise is designed to enhance partner interoperability and maintain joint readiness during combined air operations. These exercises enable U.S. Forces and NATO partners to operate more effectively throughout the European region.
“It’s a great experience and it gives me a lot of trust in the NATO alliance, as well as our partners in the German air force,” said Rasmussen.
Through strengthened relationships and engagements with our allies, the U.S. and NATO demonstrate our shared commitment to a peaceful, stable and secure Europe.