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Strengthening NATO ISR Resilience: NISRF Diversion Recovery Training in Hungary

NATO Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Force (NISRF)

Aug 4 2025

PÁPA, Hungary -- In July 2025, the NATO Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Force (NISRF) conducted its first-ever diversion recovery training at Pápa Air Base, Hungary. Organized by the NISRF Training Center, the event focused on ground handling procedures in the event of a diverted landing of a NISRF aircraft - a critical scenario that requires seamless coordination and situational awareness across multiple national support elements.

Located at Sigonella Air Base in Sicily, Italy, the NISRF Training Center is one of the key elements of the NISRF and plays a central role in the preparation of personnel from all NATO countries. It provides standardized and advanced training to ensure operational readiness in support of NATO's Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) capability delivered by NISRF.

Instead of sending an actual NATO RQ-4D Phoenix remotely piloted aircraft, the NISRF Training Center brought Virtual Reality (VR) equipment to simulate operations on site. The goal was to equip multinational personnel with the necessary knowledge and skills to manage recovery operations confidently and efficiently at alternate airfields.

"This kind of training is essential to ensuring our teams across the Alliance are ready to respond to unforeseen circumstances," said Colonel Matteo Molari, NISRF Deputy Commander and Training Center Commander. "We want everyone involved - whether in logistics, security, maintenance, or flight operations - to have a clear understanding of the procedures to be applied during divert scenarios."

By leveraging VR headsets and interactive scenarios, the training provided a highly realistic and repeatable learning experience. Participants could walk through critical procedures, interact with virtual components, and practice decision-making in a safe and controlled environment. Following the success of this training event, the diversion recovery procedure will be made available to all NATO nations through NISRF Training Center.

By adopting innovative training methods, NISRF also contributes to NATO's aim of increasing operational flexibility across the Alliance.

Story by NISRF Public Affairs Office