SWIFT RESPONSE

Swift Response
 
 
 
Swift Response 25 demonstrates multinational power projection and the expansion of critical capabilities on the battlefield in the High North and Baltics through airborne jumps and integration of technology in support of the Army Modernization Strategy and DoD Arctic Strategy. Swift Response 25 involves five near-simultaneous airborne insertions, HIRAIN training, a field hospital exercise and live fires conducted with NATO networks in Norway, Latvia, Lithuania, Sweden and Finland from May 11 – 31, 2025.
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Video by Master Sgt. Nicholas Carzis
2025 Aerial FireFighting Training
146 Airlift Wing, California Air National Guard
May 2, 2025 | 2:37
The USDA Forest Service, CAL FIRE, and four Aerial wildland firefighting wings from Colorado’s 302nd Airlift Wing, Peterson Space Force Base, the Wyoming Air National Guard's 153rd Airlift Wing, the Reno Air National Guard’s 152nd Airlift Wing, and the California Air National Guard’s 146th Airlift Wing, participate in MAFFS (Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System) annual certification and aerial firefighting training inside the Angeles National Forest and at the Channel Islands Air National Guard Station, Port Hueneme, California, April 23, 2025. The recertification training includes classroom sessions, flying, and ground operations for Air Force aircrews, civilian lead plane pilots, and support personnel from the Forest Service and other federal and state agencies. MAFFS-equipped aircraft were activated in January, and aerial firefighting support was provided to both the Palisades and Eaton Fires in the Los Angeles area. The eight C-130 Hercules aircraft in the program are equipped with the Forest Service’s MAFFS, which can drop up to 3,000 gallons of fire retardant in less than 10 seconds across a quarter-mile line.
The system slides into the back of the military aircraft, and retardant is released through a nozzle on the rear left side. MAFFS-equipped aircraft can be activated to provide a critical “surge” capability to help slow or stop the spread of wildland fires. MAFFS aircraft are only activated when all commercial airtankers that are part of the national airtanker fleet are fully committed or not readily available. (U.S. Air National Guard video by Master Sgt. Nieko Carzis)
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2025 Aerial FireFighting Training
2025 Aerial FireFighting Training
California Air National Guard C-130J MAFFS Flight Deck Footage Hughes Fires
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1:20
California Air National Guard C-130J MAFFS Flight Deck Footage Hughes Fires
AFRC Responds to the Pacific Palisades Fires
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4:26
AFRC Responds to the Pacific Palisades Fires
302nd Airlift Wing arrives at Channel Islands Air National Guard Station
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0:34
302nd Airlift Wing arrives at Channel Islands Air National Guard Station
Inside the cockpit of California National Guard's MAFFS 6 C-130J supporting firefighting efforts against Palisades Fire
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1:36
Inside the cockpit of California National Guard's MAFFS 6 C-130J supporting firefighting efforts against Palisades Fire
Nevada Air National Guard’s 152nd Airlift Wing Activated for Firefighting to assist in the greater Los Angeles area
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21:43
Nevada Air National Guard’s 152nd Airlift Wing Activated for Firefighting to assist in the greater Los Angeles area
CAL GUARD C-130's activated to support wildland fire suppression operations in Southern California
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3:21
CAL GUARD C-130's activated to support wildland fire suppression operations in Southern California
146th Airlift Wing Supports U.S. Forest Service with MAFFS C-130 Aerial Fire Fighting for Borel Fire
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1:37
146th Airlift Wing Supports U.S. Forest Service with MAFFS C-130 Aerial Fire Fighting for Borel Fire
MAFFS Operations Expand with Additional Fire Fighting Aircraft from Nevada and Wyoming Air National Guard
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7:36
MAFFS Operations Expand with Additional Fire Fighting Aircraft from Nevada and Wyoming Air National Guard
Loading of MAFFS unit with water
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0:47
Loading of MAFFS unit with water
146th Maintenance Group replaces engine and propeller on aerial fire fighting C-130J aircraft
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2:24
146th Maintenance Group replaces engine and propeller on aerial fire fighting C-130J aircraft
Interviews with members of MAFFS Operations out of McClellan Air Tanker Base, Sacramento, Calif.
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11:36
Interviews with members of MAFFS Operations out of McClellan Air Tanker Base, Sacramento, Calif.
Headed West
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1:22
Headed West
B-Roll of MAFFS Operations out of McClellan Air Tanker Base, Sacramento, Calif.
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11:06
B-Roll of MAFFS Operations out of McClellan Air Tanker Base, Sacramento, Calif.
The Mission, The People: Lt. Col. Alan Brown
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3:26
The Mission, The People: Lt. Col. Alan Brown
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What is happening where?

  • Italy
    ItalyParatroopers from the 173rd Airborne Brigade will depart from Italy to conduct an airborne drop into Lithuania.
  • Finland

    FinlandThe Finnish Army will conduct a live fire exercise with the Polish Armed Forces and U.S. Forces will fire HIMARS also known as HIRAIN training.

    Polish paratroopers will conduct an airborne jump into Finland, where they will join the Finnish Army to conduct force on force training.

  • Latvia

    Latvia

    In Latvia, paratroopers from Spanish Airborne Brigade and 173rd Airborne Brigade will conduct an airborne jump into Latvia and a live-fire exercises will follow .
    Also, the Latvian national exercise, Crystal Arrow, will be conducted simultaneously with Swift Response 25.  
  • Lithuania

    Lithuania

    In Lithuania, there will be a Field hospital exercise and medical operations. A U.S.-based blood support detachment will deploy to Europe, where they will be issued Army Prepositioned Stock and join the 512th Field Hospital in Lithuania. The exercise will demonstrate theater medical support operations while working under chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear conditions. The field hospital exercise will also include a simulated blood draw and resupply to forward positioned medical teams using drones.
    Paratroopers from the 173rd Airborne Brigade will conduct an airborne assault into Lithuania alongside NATO Allies from France, Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands.
    The Lithuanian national exercise Iron Wolf will be linked with Swift Response 25 events with participants from the Netherlands, Lithuania and Germany.
  • Norway
    NorwayAs part of Swift Response 25, paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division will deploy from the U.S. and conduct
    a direct airborne jump into Norway in the first major event commencing DEFENDER 25. This event is one of five,
    near-simultaneous airborne operations that will be taking place in Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, and Sweden.
     

    Also U.S. and Host Nation will conduct Live-fires in Norway.

  • Slovenia

    SloveniaSlovenia is providing a strategic aerial port of disembarkation (APODs) in Cerklje Air Base.

  • Sweden

    Sweden

    NATO Allies will conduct an airborne jump into Gotland Island, setting the stage for U.S. Marines to conduct a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System Rapid Insertion (HIRAIN) training on the island.

  • United Kingdom

    United KingdomTroops moving from United Kingdom to Norway and Sweden.