NATO’s fighter pilots squared off for a series of intense, one-versus-one duels in the German skies during a first-of-its-kind dogfighting competition.
The competition drew more than 30 jets from nine Allies, namely Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, the United Kingdom and the United States, to Ramstein Air Base in Germany. For each sortie, pilots would receive an envelope containing the time and location for a rendez-vous with their opponent. They didn’t know who they were fighting, or what aircraft they were facing, until the high speed “merge” with their adversary.
Following each sortie, pilots gathered to chat about their duel over cheeseburgers and hot dogs, giving them a chance to fill in knowledge gaps while forging meaningful friendships that could benefit them in the future.
Usually, NATO’s fighter pilots train within their squadrons, facing pilots and aircraft they know well. Competitions like these give them a chance to truly test themselves against unfamiliar aircraft, forcing them to either adapt their tactics mid-air or face defeat.
Following each sortie, pilots gathered to chat about their duel over cheeseburgers and hot dogs, giving them a chance to fill in knowledge gaps while forging meaningful friendships that could benefit them in the future.
This was the first dogfighting competition at Ramstein Air Base, but the US Air Force organisers said they hope to hold more iterations in the future.
Military News Today 
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