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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X-47B First to Complete Autonomous Aerial Refueling
U.S. Navy
April 23, 2015 | 1:29
PATUXENT RIVER, Md. (NNS) -- The X-47B successfully conducted the first ever Autonomous Aerial Refueling (AAR) of an unmanned aircraft April 22, completing the final test objective under the Navy's Unmanned Combat Air System demonstration program.

While flying off the coast of Maryland and Virginia, the X-47B connected to an Omega K-707 tanker aircraft and received over 4,000 pounds of fuel using the Navy's probe-and-drogue method.

"What we accomplished today demonstrates a significant, groundbreaking step forward for the Navy," said Capt. Beau Duarte, the Navy's Unmanned Carrier Aviation program manager. "The ability to autonomously transfer and receive fuel in flight will increase the range and flexibility of future unmanned aircraft platforms, ultimately extending carrier power projection."

During the test, the X-47B exchanged refueling messages with a government-designed Refueling Interface System (RIS) aboard the tanker. The aircraft autonomously maneuvered its fixed refueling probe into the tanker's drogue, also known as the basket, the same way a Navy pilot would refuel a manned aircraft.

"In manned platforms, aerial refueling is a challenging maneuver because of the precision required by the pilot to engage the basket," Duarte said. "Adding an autonomous functionality creates another layer of complexity."

This testing helps solidify the concept that future unmanned aircraft can perform standard missions like aerial refueling and operate seamlessly with manned aircraft as part of the Carrier Air Wing, he said.

"This segment of the X-47B demonstration program allowed us to further mature AAR technologies and evaluate the government tanker RIS," said Barbara Weathers, X-47B deputy program manager. "We used similar command-control and navigation processes previously demonstrated during the X-47B landings aboard the aircraft carrier."

Over the last few years, the Navy accomplished several significant firsts with the X-47B that showcased the Navy's commitment to unmanned carrier aviation. With the completion of this program, the service continues to develop its future unmanned carrier-based platform, known as UCLASS.
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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.