Italian Army and Air Force in Bulgaria, Croatia and Romania for an important NATO exercise. Underway’NATO exerciseThe multinational exercise “Swift Response 19” (SW19), which will take place from June 13th to 25th in various locations in Bulgaria, Croatia, and Romania, will involve assets and personnel of the’Italian Armyand of the’Italian Air Force.
The exercise aims to consolidate the professional, technical, and tactical capabilities of Armed Forces personnel belonging to different specialities and nations in order to strengthen and integrate the interoperability of rapid response units (short notice to move) to respond to international crisis situations. It involves approximately 5,600 military personnel from 8 partner nations, as well as from 8 NATO countries (Canada, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and the United States).
The “Swift response” It encompasses a series of Crisis Response exercises, led by US Army Europe Command (USAREUR), with the aim of conducting Joint Forcible Entry Operations (JFEO) in synergy with allied airborne units in Europe.
For “Swift Response”, Italy is participating with units and assets from the Army and the Air Force. The Army is deploying operational and logistical units from the “Folgore” Parachute Brigade, while the Air Force is taking part with its C130J aircraft and personnel from the 46th Air Brigade of Pisa. The C130J is an aircraft used for tactical transport, capable of landing on particularly short and unpaved (semi-prepared) runways, thus contributing to the deployment of personnel and equipment.
For the first time, during the exercise, the Air Force's C130J will participate in a night formation airdrop mission, using NVGs (Night Vision Goggles). The transport aircraft will be part of a formation of 12 aircraft (C130J and C17) from different nations.
