NATO, decisions and drills
The shooting range in Cincu, central Romania, will be hosting one of the most complex allied drills that brings together 4 thousand soldiers from 8 NATO countries.
Ştefan Stoica, 25.05.2017, 14:00
At a time when NATO leaders convened in Brussels for major political decisions, Romania was making the last preparations to host one of the biggest NATO exercises. Armed forces from 8 NATO countries fitted with heavy equipment and helicopter gunships are expected to come together in the Cincu shooting range, close to Brasov in central Romania.
Troops from Romania will be joined by their counterparts from Britain, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Poland, Norway, Albania and Bulgaria for a large-scale rapid-reaction drill. The mentioned NATO countries have been requested to deploy troops on the Alliance’s eastern flank.
Their mission: defending Romania. 4 thousand soldiers backed by armored carriers and helicopter gunships are to be deployed to Romania as part of NATO’s Very High Readiness Joint Task Force. With details about the drill, here is major general Lucian Foca.
Lucian Foca: “Noble Jump 2017 is a military drill with a short-notice period designed to test the operational capabilities of the NATO forces with a high level of operability and of their ability to implement an action plan meant to ensure NATO’s operational capability in Romania and Bulgaria.”
This multinational drill is coordinated by NATO through the Joint Force Command based in Naples, Italy. Exercise Noble Jump is a major logistical challenge that will test the ability of all the participants to deliver a significant fighting force to wherever it is needed.
In summer NATO will move its training military operations to the Black Sea. 18 international exercises are expected to involve the participation of 40 thousand troops from 23 allied or NATO-partner countries. The amplest manoeuvres, due to take place between July 10th and 16th under the name Saber Guardian, will bring together 25 thousand military personnel.
The exercise is part of the U.S. European Commands Joint Exercise Program designed to enhance joint combined interoperability between Bulgarian, Romanian, Hungarian, U.S. and NATO Allies. Army general Lucian Foca has told the public radio that Saber Guardian will involve a large range of operations carried out in a joint multinational context.
The exercise is meant to contribute to the development of the response and deterring capability, strengthening interoperability under a unique command through the implementation of a complete range of military missions in the spirit of security and stability in the region.
