RIAT 2025 highlighted the vital role aviation plays across all air specializations, with fighters from Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, Greece, Italy, Poland, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Photo courtesy RIAT2025, Royal Air Force and Pawel Momont
From July 18 to 20, over 20 NATO Allies gathered at the Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) 2025 in Fairford, United Kingdom, under the theme “Eyes in the Skies.” The event offered a compelling display of NATO’s air power, highlighting capabilities across the full spectrum of air operations.
Fighter aircraft from Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, Greece, Italy, Poland, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States shared the skies with rotary-wing platforms, tankers, transport aircraft, and cutting-edge surveillance and control systems. This multinational showcase emphasized NATO’s maritime patrol, search and rescue, reconnaissance, intelligence, and early warning roles.
Key highlights included NATO’s own E-3A AWACS and RQ-4D Phoenix systems, which operate 24/7 to ensure persistent situational awareness, airborne command and control, and effective coordination across contested environments. These assets support a broad mission set from air policing and crisis response to non-combatant evacuations.
The E-3A AWACS delivers real-time tracking and coordination of Allied aircraft, including low-altitude detection and maritime contact tracking. Meanwhile, the RQ-4D Phoenix, operated by NATO’s ISR Force, demonstrates the Alliance’s ability to project high-altitude, long-endurance surveillance across its territory.
Reinforcing transatlantic integration, the U.S. Air Force contributed a B-1B Lancer flypast under the Bomber Task Force (Europe) mission, showcasing long-range strike capabilities and strategic deterrence.
Before a crowd of more than 175,000 spectators, RIAT 2025 delivered dynamic flying displays that combined stealth jets, helicopters, ISR platforms, and support aircraft—demonstrating NATO’s operational readiness and seamless interoperability.
