22 Wing North Bay executes worldwide synthetic battlefield exercise
From 22 Wing North Bay
From September 10 to 21, 2018, seven members of the RCAF—five from 22 Wing North Bay, Ontario, one from 4 Wing Cold Lake, Alberta, and one from 3 Wing Bagotville, Quebec, took part in Exercise Coalition Virtual Flag (CVF) 18, a worldwide synthetic training exercise replicating major battlefield operations.
CVF runs four times per year, with the fourth serial open to international participants; this is the first time that the exercise has been executed from 22 Wing.
Exercise CVF 18 included four nations: Canada, United States, United Kingdom and Australia—represented by the Royal Canadian Air Force, United States Air Force, Royal Air Force and Royal Australian Air Force.
The exercise takes place in a virtual environment meant to prepare war fighters for combat situations through operational integration of forces. During this year’s exercise, RCAF personnel experienced a unique integration opportunity that included multiple mission areas, all executed within the Sergeant David L. Pitcher Building, home of the Canadian Air Defence Sector.
“Through diligence and hard work, the team at 22 Wing was able to increase in capacity what we already achieve on the operations floor in the Sergeant David L. Pitcher Building,” said Colonel Mark Roberts, commander of 22 Wing. “By introducing a synthetic training capability we are able to offer an opportunity to sharpen war-time battle skills to a large number of aerospace controllers and aerospace control operators right here in North Bay.
Now in its eighteenth year, Exercise CVF is part of an annual coalition training confirming interoperability and practicing defence procedures. It allows participants to experience mission parameters that include air, ground, maritime, space, cyber and intelligence by using simulations and virtual technology in a cost-effective manner.
Quick Facts
Exercise Coalition Virtual Flag 18 provided RCAF members with an opportunity to train to be responsive, resilient and adaptable within a war-time battle environment. It also enabled RCAF personnel to network with our allies in international operations through virtual technology.
22 Wing promotes the RCAF’s vision through training opportunities while supporting the advancement of command and control initiatives.
22 Wing North Bay is the headquarters for NORAD’s Canadian Air Defence Sector, providing surveillance, identification, warning, and control of air traffic over and approaching North America. Sources of information include radar information received via satellite from the North Warning System across the Canadian Arctic, coastal radars on the east and west coasts of Canada, and airborne warning and control system (AWACS) aircraft.
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