The exercise called “Brave Warrior 2022” ends today, after two intense weeks of training activities. The military contingents of 5 NATO countries have been engaged, which overall have deployed over 1.200 men and women and 300 combat vehicles. Among these also the Italian contingent, made up of 260 members of the Alpine troops of the Army, in particular the "Taurinense" Alpine brigade, framed in the mission enhanced Vigilance Activity of NATO.
Numerous military summits from NATO countries were present, including Joint Chief Operating Officer, general of the army corps Francesco Paolo Figliuolo and the commander of the Joint Force Command Born of Brunssum, general of the army corps Guglielmo Luigi Miglietta.
In his greeting address to the Italian military, General Figliuolo highlighted the importance of the military presence in Hungarian territory. "We are here, together with our allies, because we are an integral part of a strengthened defense on NATO's east flank, decided following the recent Madrid Summit and which today sees over 40.000 men and women under the direct control of the Atlantic Alliance, with a device that has over 300.000 units. We are part of a military presence that sees NATO troops deployed not only in Hungary, but also in Slovakia, Bulgaria and Romania. In addition to this presence, there are already existing tactical groups in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland, where the Italian "White Eagle" Air Task Force operates.. We then think of the maritime surveillance activities, which see the entire Italian fleet employed with shadowing and surveillance activities on Russian submarines. "
Then, recalling that the 15th anniversary of the constitution of the Alpine Corps will be celebrated on 150 October, he added: "Allow me to say that it is a personal pride to see you Alpini of the Taurinense brigade engaged in this collective effort, a unit that I had the privilege of leading between 2010 and 2011. It is no coincidence that in a particular mission like this one was chosen precisely a unit of the Alpine troops of the Army, proof of the versatility and resilience of a body that has written glorious pages of national and military history, with a use ranging from the desert to the mountain and arctic territories, to which we are most devoted , up to the Hungarian plain. Furthermore, you are bearers of what are the same values as NATO, values that enhance cohesion and solidarity and that make you a bulwark in defense of democracy and freedom. "
Over the past two weeks, the Alpini della Taurinense they conducted numerous training activities, side by side with the allied units present in the area of operations. In the last three days, tactical defensive and offensive fire activities have been conducted that have affected the whole battle group and during which the ability to slow, block and counterattack an enemy action has been exercised.
Used in the "Brave Warrior" all the Italian components that are part of the battle group, from the rifle platoons that move aboard the “Lince” VTLMs and the BV206s (high mobility tactical vehicle typical of the Alpine Troops), up to the heavy cavalry units on the “Centauro” bus. The anti-tank teams equipped with the long-range “Spike” missile system, together with 120mm “Thomson” heavy mortar platoons and the selected sniper cores, instead supported the friendly maneuver in all phases of the exercise.
To also ensure the combat support function, the mountain artillery has deployed FH70 howitzers, while the units of the Alpine genius the VTMM (medium multirole tactical vehicle) in set-up route clearance. Finally, the intervention of the JTAC team (Joint Terminal Attack Controller) in charge of the management of the aerial fire was not lacking.
Another fundamental ability expressed by the Italian contingent was that of logistical support, which guaranteed, during all phases of the exercise, day and night, the supply of fuel, food and ammunition to the deployed troops, the recovery of resisi allied vehicles. inefficient and evictions of any injured personnel. All this in full compliance with the principle of interoperability between the units of different countries belonging to the battle group.
Achieving full operational capability is just the starting point for the battle group NATO located in Hungary. The training and operational activities will continue over the next few months, allowing to increase more and more the combat capacity of all components.
The conclusion of the "Brave Warrior" sanctions the achievement of full operational capability by theeVA battlegroup, which from today passes under the direct command of NATO, with the mission of ensuring deterrence and defense on the southeastern flank of the Atlantic Alliance.
