An Air Operations planning conference was held for the military exercise “Swift Response 2022”, which is due to be conducted in the Republic of North of Macedonia from the middle of April until the end of May 2022. The exercise is part of a series of military exercises called “DEFFENDER EUROPE 22”.
The organizer of the planning conference, the Command of the United States Army Europe and Africa (USAREUR-AF), addressed the participant stressing the importance of the exercise because of the participants, who are different NATO Allies. The duties and responsibilities were delegated to the participants in order for military personnel to conduct their assigned tasks.
The aim of the planning conference is to synchronize and coordinate airborne forces responsible for conducting strategic transport including tactics, techniques and tactical procedures during the exercise. Additionally, the type of aircrafts and the nations who provide them were determined and verified. A concurrent activity was conducted, namely, an operational concept was developed for all planned airborne assaults in the Republic of North Macedonia, the Kingdom of Norway, the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Lithuania and Georgia.
The focus of the exercise in the Republic of North Macedonia is on the airborne assault, with over 4000 soldiers from NATO member countries including, the USA, the United Kingdom, the Republic of France, the Republic of Italy, Montenegro, the Republic of Albania and the Republic of North Macedonia.
Representatives from 11 countries took part in the conference including, the Czech Republic, Federal Republic of Germany, the Republic of Italy, the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Kingdom of Norway, the Republic of Poland, the United Kingdom, the USA and 90 participants from the Republic of North Macedonia.
The upcoming exercise “Swift Response 2022” will be the biggest international military exercise in the Republic of North Macedonia. It will also be the first military exercise in our country since the independence, when 1000 paratroopers will conduct an airborne assault. The exercise will be held at the barracks “Strasho Pindjur” – Petrovec, ATA “Krivolak” and TC “Pepelishte”.
