Engines at full throttle

Joint military exercises on Romanian territory, early into 2024

România Internațional, 17.01.2024, 14:00

2024 appears to be an eventful year in terms of training and exercise for Romanian military. but also for the foreign detachments dislodged as part of the NATO Combat Group, on Romanian territory. Irrespective of the country and the arms they are part of, for all military, specialized preparation is the underpinning element of their training programme.

Early into 2024, training was ongoing for the French, Luxembourg and Portuguese partners at the military training range in central Romanias Cincu base. The set target of the training session, specific for anti-aircraft defense, was that of enhancing the interoperability level among the forces that took part in the mission.

Here is what platoon commander of the Portuguese military, second-lieutenant Maria Ines Cruz, had to say about the aforementioned exercise:

“We participated in training under difficult conditions, including both specialized preparation and a physical preparation session, meant to increase cohesion within a mixed team. The most important tactical moments during training were the movement of vehicles in difficult terrain, the engagement of targets the response to an ambush and the observation of the Frech anti-drone weapons”

Apart from the anti-aircraft artillery forces, also engaged in the training session were the French and Belgian tank corps who for three weeks now have undergone training as part of a multinational exercise that tests their stamina but also the response on the battle field. The start of the training session was given straight from central Romanias Bogata range. The military of the three nations will implement all procedures and tactics they acquired in time, so that they can be harmonized with a maximum efficiency. Lieutenant-colonel Mihai Pintiliciuc, the commander of 841 Tanks Battalion is well aware of the fact that “2024 will be a difficult year, replete with training activities and challenges which we are set to approach using the experience we acquired throughout the years. This year we want to maintain the pace of our training, staging at least four exercises in the Turda range, one in Cincu and, most likely, the biggest one in the coming fall, in the Smardan shooting range, Zimbrul 24.”

We recall France is the frame nation leading the Combat Group on Romanian territory. France is the leading contributor in terms of troops and technical equipment, with its state-of-the art Leclerc tanks. Here is what the Head of NATOo Combat Group in Romania, lieutenant-colonel Constant Deforge, said ” The Present French detachment has been dislodged in Romania since November, long enough for them to get accustomed to the climate conditions and seize the auspicious opportunity to work alongside the Romanian partners, in a range other than the one in Cincu. “

We now leave the Bogata training range and reach the Getica Joint National Training Center, based in Cincu, Brasov. There the Luxembourg military received the visit of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourgs Defense Minister, Yuricko Bockes and the Luxembourg head of defense, General Steve Thull. The high-ranking officials were welcomed by the Romania National Defense Minister, Angel Tîlvăr and the Romanian Chief of Staff, General Gheorghiță Vlad. High on the agenda was the security in the Black Sea region and the West Balkans. The high-ranking participants laid emphasis on the continuation of offering support to Ukraine and Republic of Moldova. Also, the parties involved analyzed the stage of the bilateral cooperation relations in the military field and the improvement prospects of these relations, especially in the field of joint training and cyber defense.