Multinational artillery exercise showcases NATO unity in Latvia

By Sgt. Marquis McCantsAugust 5, 2025

Multinational Artillery Exercise Showcases NATO Unity in Latvia
U.S. Army soldiers with Alpha Battery, 1st Battalion, 41st Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, supporting Task Force Iron, talk about operating the M109 Howitzer with Canadian soldiers during a multinational live-fire artillery exercise at Camp Ādaži, Latvia, July 25, 2025. The training, conducted with U.S., Canadian and Spanish forces, aligned with TF Iron's mission to engage in multinational training and exercises across the continent to increase lethality, while strengthening partnerships and interoperability with our NATO allies and regional security partners. TF Iron provides combat-credible forces to V Corps, America’s only forward-deployed corps in Europe. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Marquis McCants) VIEW ORIGINAL

CAMP ADAZI, Latvia — The ranges of Camp Adazi echoed with the sound of coordinated artillery fire as U.S., Canadian and Spanish forces conducted a combined live fire exercise to strengthen NATO interoperability and joint readiness.

Bringing together artillery units from three NATO allies, the exercise focused on executing synchronized fires across a shared battlespace, a task that requires technical prowess, communication and trust.

“This was a multinational arms call for fire,” said Cpl. Gallagher of Canada’s South Alberta Light Horse T5 Alpha Squadron. “Hearing the radio calls from each nation coordinating the mission and seeing the effects downrange, it was sharp.”

While each country brought its own systems and procedures, the goal was to operate effortlessly together. Spanish Liaison Officer Lt. Marco described efforts to integrate Canadian Talos and American Apache fire control systems.

“The mission was to conduct a regimental fire mission with Canadian, American and Spanish batteries firing with a foreign forward observer,” Marco said. “It was a complete success.”

Multinational Artillery Exercise Showcases NATO Unity in Latvia
A U.S. Army M109A6 Paladin self-propelled howitzer with Alpha Battery, 1st Battalion, 41st Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, supporting Task Force Iron, stands ready for a fire mission during a multinational live-fire artillery exercise at Camp Ādaži, Latvia, July 25, 2025. The training, conducted with U.S., Canadian and Spanish forces, aligned with TF Iron's mission to engage in multinational training and exercises across the continent to increase lethality, while strengthening partnerships and interoperability with our NATO allies and regional security partners. TF Iron provides combat-credible forces to V Corps, America’s only forward-deployed corps in Europe. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Marquis McCants) VIEW ORIGINAL

The exercise also helped participating units understand one another’s equipment and capabilities. U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Kyle Laborde, howitzer section chief with Alpha Battery, 1st Battalion, 141st Field Artillery, echoed that sentiment.

“Our job is to deliver timely, effective fires,” Laborde said. “Exercises like this build bonds and show that allied forces are ready wherever the fight takes us.”

Getting to that level of coordination was challenging. The communication systems didn’t always cooperate and the teams had to adapt.

“Most of our coordination was voice-based, over the radio,” explained U.S. Army Sgt. Jordan Figgins with Alpha Battery, 1st Battalion, 141st Field Artillery. “We made it work by setting time aside to learn each other’s systems and approaches.”

Despite those challenges, the units achieved synchronized fires across the range proving that when NATO forces train together, they become stronger together.

“Coming together on a common goal drives progress,” said Figgins. “That’s how you build a real team.”

As the last rounds landed and the smoke cleared, one important lesson was clear: NATO’s strength doesn’t just come from firepower, it comes from unity.

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