Slovak and Polish air defenders test their Surface Based Air Defence capabilities
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- Date: 11.05.2021
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Slovak and Polish air defenders are testing their capabilities on Ex Combined Effort 2021, a bilateral SVK-POL exercise, at the Training Centre Lešť. Nearly 800 servicemen and women are training at the Centre, with over 1,000 troops of both armed forces and 200 pieces of land and air systems deployed on both sides of the border.
Speaking about Ex Combined Effort 2021, SVK Chief of Defence Gen Daniel Zmeko said: “The goal we set is to test the interoperability of our Surface Based Air Defence in as real environment as possible, edging close to today's battlefield conditions. For this reason, we have involved not only Surface Based Air Defence and Air Force elements in the exercise, but also Army and Special Operations Forces components.” The idea of organising this exercise emerged during a meeting of the SVK and POL CHODs in 2019. It was originally scheduled to take place last summer, however, it had to be rescheduled to this May due to earlier anti-pandemic restrictions in place.
The exercise aims to build an interoperable bilateral SBAD task force with several firing elements and to present the Air and Ground Situation Picture. Polish Army aerial systems and advanced tactical aircraft, combined with SVK Air Force air assets including UH-60M Black Hawks, are deployed to create the Air Situation Picture (ASP). Similarly, the Ground Situation Picture (GSP) is complemented by elements from 12 Mechanised Battalion, acting as the protection and defending force in support of the SBAD Task Force, as the Special Operations Forces (SOFs) and reconnaissance troops take on the role of the enemy force.
Thanks to this complex scenario, this unique exercise is to test the SBAD capabilities against Air Breathing Targets (ABT) and the readiness of troops to conduct missions in a near real combat situation. This is the first bilateral exercise of its kind which has been prepared, planned and overseen by the highest echelon of command of both armed forces.
Speaking about Ex Combined Effort 2021, SVK Chief of Defence Gen Daniel Zmeko said: “The goal we set is to test the interoperability of our Surface Based Air Defence in as real environment as possible, edging close to today's battlefield conditions. For this reason, we have involved not only Surface Based Air Defence and Air Force elements in the exercise, but also Army and Special Operations Forces components.” The idea of organising this exercise emerged during a meeting of the SVK and POL CHODs in 2019. It was originally scheduled to take place last summer, however, it had to be rescheduled to this May due to earlier anti-pandemic restrictions in place.
The exercise aims to build an interoperable bilateral SBAD task force with several firing elements and to present the Air and Ground Situation Picture. Polish Army aerial systems and advanced tactical aircraft, combined with SVK Air Force air assets including UH-60M Black Hawks, are deployed to create the Air Situation Picture (ASP). Similarly, the Ground Situation Picture (GSP) is complemented by elements from 12 Mechanised Battalion, acting as the protection and defending force in support of the SBAD Task Force, as the Special Operations Forces (SOFs) and reconnaissance troops take on the role of the enemy force.
Thanks to this complex scenario, this unique exercise is to test the SBAD capabilities against Air Breathing Targets (ABT) and the readiness of troops to conduct missions in a near real combat situation. This is the first bilateral exercise of its kind which has been prepared, planned and overseen by the highest echelon of command of both armed forces.
