Source: NATO – NATO’s Annual Jump Exercise integral training For the NATO Response Force
Every year NATO trains and tests its Very High Readiness Joint Task Force (VJTF) under the designation of “exercise Jump” with the responsibility rotating between Allied Joint Force Command Brunssum and Allied Joint Force Command Naples.
The VJTF is the highest-readiness element of NATO’s larger Response Force (NRF), which also includes air and maritime forces. (…)
This year the obligation falls under the command of JFC Brunssum. Exercise Brilliant Jump 2024 is being held in the Drawsko Pomorskie exercise area in Northern Poland. 3,000 personnel and 700 vehicles from predominantly five NATO nations (Albania, Poland, Spain, Türkiye and the United Kingdom) are participating. (…)
Brilliant Jump 2024 falls under the Steadfast Defender 2024 series of exercises. Following Brilliant Jump, the VJTF will move across Poland to take part in Polish exercise Dragon 24.
Read Article In Full >>> https://shape.nato.int/stde24/newsroom/news-/natos-annual-jump-exercise-integral-training-for-the-nato-response-force
Illustration © NATO >>> https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/222847.htm#numbers
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See Steadfast Defender 2024’s context below
Source: NATO >>> Abstracts from: https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/222847.htm#timeline
Throughout the Cold War, NATO maintained a very active exercise programme to train forces in as many demanding scenarios as possible. This included the REFORGER series of exercises, which – like Steadfast Defender 24 – tested the ability of North American troops to rapidly deploy to Europe (the word “ReForGer” stood for “Return of Forces to Germany”). The last exercise on a similar scale to Steadfast Defender 24 was REFORGER 88, with 125,000 participating personnel.
Since Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014, NATO has increased the number of exercises that focus on collective defence scenarios. Following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Allies have further strengthened NATO’s deterrence and defence, creating the most comprehensive defence plans since the end of the Cold War. Steadfast Defender 24 is the first large-scale NATO exercise to put these new defence plans into action. (…)
Steadfast Defender 24 is NATO’s largest military exercise since the Cold War, [with] over 90,000 troops from all 31 NATO Allies and Invitee Sweden. From January to May 2024, North American troops crossing the Atlantic [will be] moving across Europe and exercising with European forces.
The first part of the exercise focuses on securing the Atlantic up to the Arctic; the second part focuses on moving troops across Europe, from the High North to Central and Eastern Europe, [following the timeline below]:
Exercise Steadfast Defender 24 is split into two overlapping parts. Each phase of the exercise includes a range of associated exercises hosted by different countries. Part 1 focuses on transatlantic reinforcement – the strategic deployment of North American forces across the Atlantic to continental Europe. This phase includes maritime live exercises and amphibious assault training in the North Atlantic and Arctic seas. Part 2 focuses on multi-domain exercises across Europe – demonstrating NATO, national and multinational military capabilities. This phase will also test the rapid deployment of troops and equipment across borders within the Alliance.
- LATE JANUARY
Exercise Steadfast Defender 24 launches in Norfolk, Virginia – the home of NATO’s Joint Force Command Norfolk, which is coordinating Part 1 of the exercise – with the deployment of US forces across the Atlantic to continental Europe. Canadian forces depart from Halifax, Nova Scotia soon after. - 11 – 20 FEBRUARY
The maritime live exercise (LIVEX) tests NATO’s ability to protect the essential sea lines of communication (i.e. the primary maritime routes) that enable transatlantic reinforcement. In 2024, it is taking place primarily off the coast of Spain. - 12 – 28 FEBRUARY
Exercise Brilliant Jump tests and trains the NATO Response Force (NRF) in planning and executing rapid deployments. It focuses on assessing the readiness of the NRF during peacetime and when on stand-by, ensuring the force can promptly respond if any situation arises. (Germany, Poland) - 24 FEBRUARY – 3 MARCH
Joint Warrior is a UK-led multinational exercise held twice a year in the waters around the United Kingdom. It tests a wide range of warfighting capabilities, emphasising maritime activities and offshore manoeuvres, while also including land and air operations. - 25 FEBRUARY – 14 MARCH
Poland is leading Dragon 24 a multinational exercise to train its land, air and maritime forces, demonstrating Poland’s ability to respond to various threats, both military and non-military, during times of conflict and crisis. The exercise involves a total of about 20,000 soldiers and 3,500 units of equipment from 10 NATO countries, including about 15,000 soldiers of the Polish Armed Forces. - 28 FEBRUARY – 8 MARCH
Saber Strike is a large-scale field training exercise conducted under the lead of US Army Europe and Africa (USAREUR-AF). The exercise focuses on rapid deployment of forces and cold weather training in the Baltics. It is organised under the umbrella of DEFENDER 24. (Czechia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia) - 29 FEBRUARY – 14 MARCH
Trojan Footprint 24 focuses on improving the ability of special operations forces (SOF) to counter a wide range of threats. It also helps increase the integration of SOF with conventional forces, and enhances the interoperability of NATO Allies and partners. (Greece, Romania, Georgia) - 4 -15 MARCH
The annual exercise Crystal Arrow is led by the Latvian Mechanised Infantry Brigade. It practises alert procedures and evaluates the combat readiness of the NATO multinational battlegroup in Latvia. - 5 – 14 MARCH
The objective of Nordic Response is to enhance the ability of Allies (and NATO Invitee Sweden) to address security challenges in the High North. The exercise builds off the legacy of Cold Response, a cold-weather exercise that has been running every other year in northern Norway since 2006. Following NATO’s enlargements with Finland and soon Sweden, the Norwegians are now expanding the exercise and renaming it “Nordic Response”. It involves over 20,000 soldiers, 50+ ships and 110+ aircraft from more than 14 countries. (Norway) - 8 APRIL – 31 MAY
DEFENDER is an annual exercise organised by US European Command (USEUCOM). It involves deploying land forces from North America to the USEUCOM area of responsibility and organising the joint reception, staging, onward movement and integration of these forces alongside those of NATO Allies in Europe. DEFENDER serves as a framework exercise for a number of other exercises, including Saber Strike 24, Immediate Response 24 and Swift Response 24. (Northern Europe) - 21 APRIL – 31 MAY
Immediate Response is a joint exercise led by the US, designed to train deployment and boost interoperability between NATO Allies and partners. It is organised under the umbrella of DEFENDER 24. (Sweden) - 30 APRIL – 30 JULY
Grand Quadriga is a series of German-organised military exercises that aim to strengthen national and collective defence, and also the deterrence and defence posture of the Alliance. The goal is to improve command and control, readiness and quick response capabilities. (Germany, Lithuania) - 1 – 22 MAY
Brave Warrior is a Hungarian national exercise held under the auspices of NATO’s multinational battlegroup in Hungary. It aims to train the battlegroup in leading multinational formations, and planning and conducting defensive operations. - 12 – 31 MAY
Spring Storm is Estonia’s largest annual military exercise. Led by an Infantry Division of the Estonian Defence Forces, the goal is to train in defensive joint operations with Allied units, focusing on collective defence within a scenario covered by Article 5. - 14 MAY – 14 JUNE
During exercise Swift Response, the US-led Immediate Response Force will carry out joint airborne operations to enhance readiness, foster interoperability with Allied forces and contribute to NATO’s assurance and deterrence efforts. It is organised under the umbrella of DEFENDER 24 (Estonia, Georgia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland).
