The biggest airdrop exercise since World War II
An overview of recent military exercises hosted by Romania
Vlad Palcu, 22.05.2024, 14:00
The multinational Swift Response 24 exercise is taking place on Romania’s territory until May 24, involving over 5,000 servicemen and 320 equipment from seven allied and partner states. Swift Response tests airdrop missions, which also involve reclaiming occupied military bases by achieving air superiority, airdropping allied forces in the area and carrying out live ammo fire practice in shooting ranges.
The Swift Response, Saber Strike and Immediate Response exercise trio is part of the Defender 24 training program coordinated by the US Forces Command Europe, involving 40,000 troops from 20 allied and partner nations. The United States Army V Corps takes lead for this joint air operations exercise designed to increase readiness and interoperability among allied forces, also marking a key contribution to NATO’s deterrence posture.
As part of training carried out in Romania, some 2,000 paratroopers from France, Germany, Romania, Spain, the USA and the Netherlands took part in the Joint Forcible Entry multinational airdrop operation, which also included paratrooper airdrop missions and military equipment landing drills. The main activity was originally planned for May 12, but since the weather is a contributing factor in the conduct of military operations, and the atmospheric conditions did not favor airdrop drills, the operation was shifted to Monday, May 13, in the area of the 71st Air Base in Câmpia Turzii (central Romania). During the interval, similar operations were carried out in five other allied and partner states – Estonia North Macedonia, the Republic of Moldova, Poland and Sweden, thus making Swift Response 24 the largest airdrop operation in Europe since World War II. Romania contributes 2,300 troops.
Swift Response 24 is also connected to the Wind Spring 24/Dacia 24 military exercise in Romania, involving forces of the General Grigore Bălan 81st Mechanized Brigade, deployed in the Getica Training Center in Cincu, Brașov County (center), and in the Bogata polygon in Cluj County (northwest). The “Carpathian Hawks” from the 812th Infantry Battalion from Bistrita (northwest), together with soldiers from the Republic of Moldova, are currently conducting joint training sessions as part of the Wind Spring 24 exercise. Additionally, engineers from the 3rd Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group took part in this exercise, focusing on procedures for breaching buildings using explosive devices, neutralizing IEDs discovered on site, as well as resolving incidents with conventional ammo.
Another multinational exercise carried out during this period in Romania is Mountain Saber 24, whereby servicemen from the Dragoș Vodă 17th Ranger Battalion cooperated with French, North Macedonian, Polish and Portuguese peers.
The NATO South-East Multinational Corps in Sibiu (center) organized the Carpathian Blood 24 multinational medical exercise this week, attended by representatives of the Land Forces Command, various NATO structures and national medical authorities. The exercises highlighted possible medical issues that may be encountered in the field, as well as solutions to provide effective and coordinated medical support. (VP)
