The international Ample Strike military exercise begins in the Czech Republic, which involves soldiers from eight other NATO countries training with the Czech army. The exercise aims at practicing with the cooperation of advanced guiding operatives, who are responsible for determining a target’s position with the help of aircrews and ground commanders. The event will last until Sept. 19.
The exercise is also to test the host country’s ability to provide support to foreign troops. Pilots of Czech Jas-39 Gripen aircraft will practice refueling in flight, among other tasks. About 200 domestic and 200 foreign soldiers will participate.
According to its website, soldiers from France, Hungary, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, the USA, Slovakia, and the United Kingdom will take part in the exercise, together with the Czech army. The actual training is scheduled from 6-19 September. It will take place in the training area of Boletice, in Bechyně, at the base of the helicopter air force Sedlec, Vícenice, at the base of the tactical air force in Čáslav, and at the airport in Pardubice.
From the aircraft technology, in addition to the Czech Jas-39 Gripen and L-159 Alca aircraft and Mi-24 helicopters, German Learjet aircraft, Hungarian Jas-39 aircraft, and the Dutch L-39C will be involved in the exercise. The United States announced the participation of F-15 fighters and aircraft providing refueling in the air KC-135. On Sunday, an American drone MQ-9 Reaper landed in Ostrava.
Title image: British soldiers attend a military exercise ‘Iron Sword 2014’, at the Gaiziunu Training Range in Pabrade some 60km. (38 miles) north of the capital Vilnius, Lithuania, Thursday, Nov. 13, 2014.
