LOC20:34
17:34 GMT
Dutch Soldiers take part in Exercise Noble Jump exercise in Eindhoven, The Netherlands
BRUSSELS, April 9 (KUNA) -- The NATO on Thursday announced that the 28-member Alliance completed the first military drills for its new rapid reaction force.
From Tuesday through Thursday, more than 1,500 troops took part in exercise "Noble Jump," designed to test whether troops assigned to NATO's new Spearhead Force, also called Very High Joint Readiness Task Force, could be ready to deploy 48 hours after receiving an order-to-move.
Across Europe, personnel from Croatia, Denmark, Germany, Hungary, Lithuania, Norway, Slovenia, Poland and Portugal tested their responses to NATO alert orders.
In the Czech Republic and the Netherlands, troops and equipment were assembled quickly at airfields and railway stations as if they were about to depart. The units involved in this week's exercise will also be involved in further trials in Poland in June, according to a NATO press release.
NATO leaders at the Wales Summit last year decided to create a new quick reaction military force designed to respond swiftly to new challenges on the Alliance's southern and eastern borders.
The high readiness force will include about 5,000 land troops, with supporting maritime, special operations and air units. Lead elements of the new force will be able to move in as little as 48 hours.
The Spearhead Force is part of the Alliance's larger NATO Response Force, which is being increased to a force level of around 30,000 troops. (end)
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