Immediate Response 25 is a U.S. Army large-scale exercise enhancing cyber and CBRNE defense capabilities, NATO integration through state partnership readiness programs and multinational exercises to equip NATO’s regional plans and uphold U.S. commitments to the Alliance. Immediate Response 25 demonstrates multinational live fires conducted with NATO networks, a cyber exercise, water crossing, and CBRNE exercises from May 26 - June 9 with over 12,000 participants and hosted in eight countries to include Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Slovakia. 

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F-35C Lightning II History: F-35C Aces First Release of an AGM-154 Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW)
F-35 Lightning II Pax River ITF
April 1, 2016 | 0:11
The F-35 Lightning II program made aviation history March 23 as Cmdr. Ted “Dutch” Dyckman, a U.S. Navy F-35 Lightning II test pilot, released an AGM-154 Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW) from aircraft CF-05 over the Atlantic Test Ranges. The inaugural weapons separation test of the JSOW 1,000 lb-class guided glide bomb conducted by the F-35 Lightning II Patuxent River Integrated Test Force (ITF) was a major milestone for the U.S. Navy and F-35 program. The test featured the first non-Mk 80 series bomb ever released from an F-35 Lightning II. The JSOW safely separated from an internal weapons bay within the F-35C carrier variant, thereby maintaining the stealth characteristics of the aircraft. The addition of this guided glide bomb equips the F-35 Lightning II with a medium range all-weather weapon capable of engaging targets from further vantage points well out of range of typical enemy anti-aircraft and counter-air defenses. This lethality and survivability delivers a decisive advantage over adversaries. The F-35 Lightning II Pax River ITF joint team, assigned to the Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 23 aboard Naval Air Station Patuxent River in Maryland, released one JSOW during the flight. The team will release additional JSOWs throughout 2016. Working on the multi-phase testing of the F-35 Block 3F capabilities, are U.S. government, military and contractor personnel, and industry partners from Raytheon Systems Ltd. The fleet of F-35 Lightning II aircraft operating at 12 different locations worldwide surpassed the 50,000 flight hour mark in February 2016. Following the U.S. Marine Corps' July 2015 combat-ready Initial Operational Capability (IOC) declaration, the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy intend to attain service IOC this summer and in 2018, respectively. The AGM-154 JSOW is a Raytheon product, Lockheed Martin is the aircraft contractor and Pratt & Whitney is the engine contractor.


Multi-Role, Multi-Service Mission
The F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) is a multi-role, multi-service, single seat, single engine strike fighter featuring next generation stealth technology. As the backbone of U.S. air combat superiority for generations to come, the F-35 provides a common platform across three variants -
The F-35A A conventional take-off and landing (CTOL) aircraft designed for the U.S. Air Force as a complement to the F/A-22 Raptor and primary air-to-ground multi-role replacement for both the F-16 Falcon and A-10 Thunderbolt II. The F-35A is significantly more lethal and survivable in the full spectrum of air-to-air and air-to-surface scenarios than its predecessors.
The F-35B A short take-off/vertical-landing (STOVL) aircraft designed to be the single strike fighter for the U.S. Marine Corps, replacing both the AV-8B Harrier and F/A-18 Hornet. The F-35B will deliver unprecedented flexibility for use at damaged airstrips, austere expeditionary operating sites, major bases and afloat on aircraft carriers and smaller amphibious ships.
The F-35C A carrier variant (CV) designed for the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps as a first-day-of-war, survivable strike fighter complemented by the F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet and replaces the F/A-18 Hornet. The F-35C is capable of overcoming a variety of threats - surface-to-air missiles, air-to-air missiles and tactical aircraft - while enhancing mission success through its unprecedented stealth-at-sea capability, advanced jamming, threat system detection, command and control supremacy, and unrivaled interoperability with other aircraft.

The joint and multi-national acquisition aspect of the F-35 5th generation fighter is of primary interest. Aside from the US Air Force, Navy & Marine Corps, there are eight partner nations and three Foreign Military Sales countries. Synopsis follows: The F-35 Lightning II is a single-seat, single-engine, stealthy strike fighter that incorporates low-observable (stealth) technologies, defensive avionics, advanced sensor fusion, internal and external weapons, and an advanced prognostic maintenance capability to deliver optimum international security via integrated coalition operations. Partner nations include the UK, Italy, the Netherlands, Turkey, Canada, Australia, Denmark and Norway - as well as three Foreign Military Sales (FMS) countries - Japan, Israel and South Korea.
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F-35C Lightning II History: F-35C Aces First Release of an AGM-154 Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW)
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What is happening where?

  • Albania

    AlbaniaIn Albania, the New Jersey Army National Guard will conduct live-fire activities with Albanian Armed Forces, as part of the State Partnership Program.

  • Bulgaria

    BulgariaThe USAREUR-AF Band & Chorus, along with other U.S. Army units, will conduct a series of dynamic performances and community engagements across Bulgaria ahead of DEFENDER 25.

    In Bulgaria, the 31st Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear (CBRN) Brigade, Alabama Army National Guard, will have personnel provide protection support to NATO’s 1st German Netherlands Corps and command and control of all CBRNE units and training in Immediate Response 25. A CBRN headquarters will be established at a satellite location to execute a division-level CBRN mission command center.

    Additionally, the Bulgarian national exercise, Bulgarian Sentinel, will be linked to Immediate Response 25 and consists of a battalion from 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, one Forward Land Forces (FLF) multinational battlegroup and Bulgarian Land Force Command conducting a battalion-level live-fire exercise at two separate training areas. (The FLF is one of eight battlegroups contributing to NATO’s forward presence and hosted by Bulgaria, with Italy being the framework nation.)

  • Croatia

    Croatia

    In Croatia, troops from the U.S. Army 18th Military Police Brigade, 21st TSC, will establish a Theater Detention Facility and a Joint Interrogation and Debriefing Center (JIDC) to increase detention operations, expeditionary deployment operations and command and control capabilities with Allies and partners. Role 2 ancillary medical support will be supported by the Croatian Armed Forces.

    Soldiers from the Maryland Army National Guard will conduct a live fire exercise with their state partner, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

    Additionally, a mechanized brigade attack training event will take place with soldiers from the U.S., Albania, Croatia, Germany, Kosovo, North Macedonia, and Slovenia.

    Two Croatian national exercises, named Lift and Laufer, will be linked to exercise Immediate Response 25.

  • Greece

    Greece

    Immediate Response kicks off in Greece - The Hellenic Army will host an opening ceremony with multinational participation marking the commencement of Immediate Response 25. Equipment and weaponry being used during the exercise will also be on display.
    In Greece, a water crossing and battalion air assault will occur with personnel from the 194th Engineer Brigade, Tennessee Army National Guard, 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Vermont Army National Guard, and Greek 20th Armored Division.
    Combined arms live-fire training will take place near Petrochori. A chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive training event will take place at a Hellenic port to demonstrate a chemical attack, disrupting port operations, and exercise decontamination scenarios with French, Greek and U.S. forces including the U.S. Army 21st TSC and 184th Ordnance Battalion, 52nd Explosive Ordnance Device Group, 20th CBRNE Command.
  • Kosovo

    KosovoIn Kosovo, personnel from 28th Infantry Division, Pennsylvania Army National Guard will participate in Immediate Response 25 as a division headquarters overseeing four multinational brigades. 

  • Montenegro

    Montenegro

    In Montenegro, Maine Army National Guard, Montenegro Armed Forces, and host nation government agencies will conduct a cyber range enhancing host nation cyber defense and communications security to deter and defend in crisis and conflict.
    U.S. Navy Maritime Expeditionary Security Group 2, and Montenegrin and Albania Naval Forces will conduct port security sustainment training in Montenegro and transfer to Albania to improve force projection and integration in the Adriatic.
  • North Macedonia

    North Macedonia

    A public event will be held in the city of Kavadarci, where NATO Allies and partners will showcase military equipment and vehicles being used during Immediate Response 25.
    The 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Vermont Army National Guard will conduct a multinational live fire exercise alongside their state partner, North Macedonia.
    In North Macedonia, the 86th IBCT will conduct training activities alongside the Army of the Republic of North Macedonia, Austrian Armed Forces, Albanian Armed Forces, Hellenic Army, Kosovo Security Forces, and Armed Forces of Montenegro. Activities at Krivolak Training Area include mountain training, field training exercise, combined arms live-fire and small arms live-fires.  
  • Slovakia
    SlovakiaIn Slovakia, U.S. Army 1st Global Field Medical Laboratory, 20th CBRNE Command, will conduct defensive CBRNE tasks to mitigate threats while being integrated with a multinational CBRNE task force at the CBRN Training and Testing Center.