Latvia: "Silver Arrow" exercise concluded

(To "Baltic Guardian" operation)
08/10/19

The Italian contingent, deployed as part of the mission in Latvia, participated in the "Silver Arrow" exercise (Integrated Capstone Excercise) which engaged 3.000 soldiers from 12 NATO countries for eleven days (Canada, Albania, Czech Republic, Italy, Montenegro , Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia) and over 250 combat and logistics vehicles.

The device of the exercise, which began on 23 September last, was first deployed at the locations of Lielvarde, Upespils, Jugla, Lielkangari, and then moved to Kadaga in the training area of ​​the Camp Ādaži polygon.

The maneuver consisted of a defensive tactical activity, which saw the units engaged carrying out tasks of occupation of the battle positions, braking, blocking and then alternation. The counterattack on the enemy device was later developed.

The forces deployed on the ground, at Battle Group level, have expressed different operational components, such as the Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC) cores, light and heavy infantry units, cavalry tankers, artillery, engineers and Explosive Ordnance Disposal ( EOD).

The exercise was carried out in opposing parties, implementing the technical-tactical procedures at the peak of a joint training cycle of approximately three months. As part of the training activity, the operational, cooperation and integration capabilities of the units belonging to the Enhanced Forward Presence (eFP) Battle Groups with the other Alliance countries were tested and validated in the field. At the end of the activity, a fire demonstration of the weapon systems used was conducted.

The Italian heavy infantry company employed about 120 soldiers deploying VCC 80 tracked vehicles Dart, the C1 tanks Ram, the Multirole Light Tactical Vehicles (VTLM) Lynx, as well as means for logistical support such as tactical tankers, rescue vehicles and for the recovery of the injured. The JTAC core and the team of sharpshooters were also employed.

The activities carried out made it possible to train and amalgamate the personnel - perfecting the technical-tactical procedures for using the equipment, means and weapon systems supplied - to implement the command and control capacity of the unit, raising its level of integration and interoperability with units of the same level, to fully achieve the training objectives set and to achieve the validation of the skills acquired.

The Italian contingent deployed in Latvia, as part of the "Baltic Guardian" operation, under the command of Lt. with the. Giovanni Rucco, was identified by the bersaglieri brigade Garibaldi of the Army is based on the 1st Bersaglieri regiment stationed in Cosenza, integrated by a tank operating unit of platoon level and staff of the 4th tank regiment stationed in Persano.

The eFP mission in Latvia demonstrates, on the one hand, the solidarity and cohesion between NATO member countries and, on the other, the determination of the Alliance in its primary mission of defending Euro-Atlantic territorial integrity against any possible aggression and threat external.