Swift Response 22:Expansive NATO Airborne Drills

Exercise Swift Response 22 began on 2 May and runs through 20 May.It demonstrates the U.S. Army Europe and Africa's ability to conduct near-simultaneous airborne operations from the Arctic Circle to the Balkans.About 9,000 service members from 17 Allied and Partner nations are taking part,USAEURA said in a press release,including some 2700 US Soldiers and Airmen.The drills test the Army's ability to rapidly deploy beside European multinational forces on short notice across the globe.It presents combat credible Army forces and enhances readiness by building airborne interoperability with European Allies and Partners.Over the course of 96 hours,there are to be five near-simultaneous Joint Forcible Entries (airborne operations).* Paratroopers from the 173rd Airborne Brigade and 82nd Airborne Division,along with Allied airborne units,conducted separate JFEs into Italy,Lithuania and North Macedonia,the newest NATO Ally.Upon completion of the airborne assaults,each brigade task force is to conduct land tactical operations and follow-on training such as rotary wing deep-strike attacks;air assault operations;live-fire drills and field-training exercises.* On 8 May 2022,elements of the British Army's 16 Air Assault Brigade deployed with the US Army's 1st Air Cavalry Brigade,1st Cavalry Division and the UK 16 Air Assault Brigade Combat Team boarded 1st Air Cavalry UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters for an air assault mission.This was at Krivolak Military Training Centre,North Macedonia.Also taking part was the British Army's 1 Aviation Brigade Combat Team.The US and British Soldiers planned and drilled as a multinational team.Also involved were US and UK CH-47 Chinook and UK AH-64 Apache helicopters.The Chinooks and Blackhawks demonstrated personnel deployments and air assaults,and the UK Apaches executed attack and defence manoeuvres.* Swift Response is an annual exercise for the Allied and Partner airborne troops.According to NATO spokesperson Oana Lungescu,the defensive drills were: planned well before Russia's brutal and unjustified invasion of Ukraine,but they help to remove any room for miscalcualtion or misuderstanding about our resolve to protect and defend every inch of Allied territory.*