On May 6 the "Jolly Rogers" fighter aircraft of the Strike Fighter Squadron 103 of the Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group took part in in a Close Air Support exercise at Kazlų Rūda Training Area. Joint Terminal Attack Controllers (JTAC) of the Lithuanian Special Operations Forces coordinated the CAS by identifying ground-based targets.
Two U.S. F/A18-F Super Hornet fighter jets whose pilots are also trained in calling in and controlling air support of other aircraft were attacking ground-based targets according the scenario of the exercise that trained them to integrate with JTACs of the Lithuanian Special Operations Forces and act on the information they provide.
"We are accomplishing our mission by supporting our allies and showing the world we are prepared and capable of executing missions in our allies' airspace on short notice," said Lt Cmdr Stephen Gay, a Jolly Roger pilot and coordinator of the CAS exercise. "I've got a ton of confidence that if we have to work with these guys in a non-training scenario, it will be seamless."
"We can feel mutual trust and understanding between the pilots and our JTACs, and nothing feels better than to understand while you on the ground that a pilot coming from many miles away is doing everything in his power to provide fire support and to protect the friendly forces. Within a minute of communication it already feels like you know the pilot perfectly. Such exercises prove that we are capable of fighting and training together anytime and anywhere. Our respect and appreciation go to VFA-103 and the Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group and all of its components and personnel who enabled the training and brought the "Sound of Freedom" of the F/A18-F Super Hornets to Lithuania," said a Lithuanian Special Operation Forces JTAC.
According to the exercise scenario, JTACs of the Lithuanian Special Operations Forces trained calling in and coordinating close air support by voice and digital battlefield control systems. The fighter aircraft took off from aboard the carrier in the Ionian Sea and flew over 1,000 nautical miles to the exercise in Lithuania with several air refuellings.
Photo credits: Lithuanian Special Operations Forces
