DEFENDER-Europe is an annual large-scale U.S. Army-led, multinational, joint exercise designed to build readiness and interoperability between U.S., NATO and partner militaries. This year’s exercise:
- Focuses on building operational readiness and interoperability with a greater number of NATO allies and partners over a wider area of operations
- Is defensive in nature and focused on responding to crisis if necessary
- Demonstrates that the U.S. commitment to NATO is iron clad
-... read more
DEFENDER-Europe is an annual large-scale U.S. Army-led, multinational, joint exercise designed to build readiness and interoperability between U.S., NATO and partner militaries. This year’s exercise:
- Focuses on building operational readiness and interoperability with a greater number of NATO allies and partners over a wider area of operations
- Is defensive in nature and focused on responding to crisis if necessary
- Demonstrates that the U.S. commitment to NATO is iron clad
- Integrates approximately 28,000 multinational forces from 26 nations to conduct nearly simultaneous operations across more than 30 training areas in 12 countries.
- Includes strict COVID prevention and mitigation measures, such as pre-deployment COVID testing and quarantining.
- Has significant involvement of the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy.
- Utilizes key ground and maritime routes bridging Europe, Asia and Africa
- Exercises new high-end capabilities such the new U.S. Army Security Force Assistance Brigades, air and missile defense assets and the recently reactivated V Corps
- Demonstrates our ability to serve as a strategic security partner in the western Balkans and Black Sea regions while sustaining our abilities in northern Europe, the Caucasus, Ukraine and Africa. show less
U.S. Army Soldiers assigned to Alpha Battery, 1st Battalion 77th Field Artillery Regiment, 41st Field Artillery Brigade deployed High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems and conducted a suppression of enemy air defense live fire in Guerir Libouihi Air Base, Morocco, June 9, 2021, in order to demonstrate force protection capabilities and allow paratroopers from 173rd Airborne Brigade to conduct an air insertion mission as part of exercise...
