In recent days, a training session involving the Italian and Bulgarian armies took place at the Torodovo shooting range.
As a prelude to the exercise, a planning activity was conducted by the staff of the forward land force battle group to perform a time analysis, evaluate the mission and issue a first order warning. The training purpose of the activity was to share detection, command, control and reporting procedures and improve interoperability between Italian and Bulgarian anti-aircraft artillery units.
The exercise - included in the wider spectrum of the European programme European Tactical Airlift (ETA) involved approximately 50 soldiers of the forward land force battle group, led by Colonel Federico Maddaluno and over 20 combat vehicles supplied to the various NATO assets deployed at the Novo Selo base.
The joint training focused on the synchronization and combined use of the two different air defense assets, the Italian “Stinger” and the Bulgarian “Geko”, in order to increase the level of integration and validate common operational procedures to intervene promptly if necessary.
The Italian and Bulgarian militaries have had the opportunity to integrate command and control procedures, thus increasing interoperability in the conduct of air defense operations.
The NATO mission conducted by the national contingent is defensive in nature, proportionate and fully in line with the international commitment of the Atlantic Alliance which intends to strengthen the principles of deterrence and defence, against potential threats and defence of Euro-Atlantic spaces.
