Spain completes its participation in “Defender Europe 25” after the “Saber Guardian” exercise in Hungary

• After the loading of materials and equipment in the Croatian port of Zadar, the units of the Brigade “Rey Alfonso XIII”, II of the Legion, the Cavalry Regiment 11 “España” and the Regiment of Transmissions 1 return to national territory

More than 450 military personnel and 130 vehicles - from the units of the Brigade “Rey Alfonso XIII” II of the Legion (Ronda and Viator), units of the Cavalry Regiment 11 “España” (Zaragoza) and Regiment of Transmissions 1 (Valencia) - conclude their deployment for the exercise “Saber Guardian 25” in Hungary. This was the third and final exercise of “Defender Europe 25”, the largest annual training activity organised by the United States Army in Europe and Africa (USAREUR_AF) on European soil.

After completing this international training activity, the Army units have begun the reverse RSOM process (Reception, Staging, Onward Movement concept in military terminology) by air, land and sea to their locations in national territory. As a final milestone of the exercise, a critical trial was held on 20 June, which was the step prior to the start of the withdrawal from Hungary to the port of Zadar in Croatia. There, all the deployed material and a team of soldiers are now embarked on the logistics transport ship “Ysabel”, which has begun to sail to the port of Cartagena. Meanwhile, most of the soldiers participating in SG25 will return by air to Malaga

Saber Guardian Final: Spain's participation

From 9 to 24 June, different Spanish tactical units deployed and trained together to strengthen interoperability with allied nations. Among others, numerous collaborations and exercises were carried out with the armies of the United States, Hungary and Italy. These exercises strengthened the interoperability of allied units, as well as the synchronisation of manoeuvre elements.

During the training days, the different tactical units of the Legion Brigade were integrated under the command of the 1st Hungarian Division. Specifically, a Brigade level tactical command post and a Light Tactical Group - coming from the 4th Tercio, the Sappers Battalion, the Legionary Group and the Brigade Headquarters of the Legion (BRILEG) - took part, as well as the Tactical Group command post with squadron from the Cavalry Regiment (RC) 11. The exercise was also an opportunity for integration and interoperability between Centauro vehicles of the Cavalry Regiment ‘Spain’ 11, with KF41 Lynx tanks, Leopard A7 of the Hungarian Army together with the M1126 Stryker, as well as Apache helicopters of the 2CR and 12 Cab of the US Army.

On the other hand, the Spanish forces taking part - which are part of the 1st Hungarian Infantry Division, commanded by General Szloszjár Balázs - have been formed into different tactical groups, both at the tactical command post level and tactical groups, made up of the ‘Rey Alfonso XIII’ II Brigade of the Legion, as well as the Tactical Group with squadrons from the ‘España’ 11 Cavalry Regiment and the 1st Transmissions Regiment. All in all, this exercise was a unique opportunity to combine and train the different capabilities of the participating NATO countries - under US leadership - to guarantee the protection of the eastern flank of allied territory.

Triad of the “Defender Europe 25” exercise

Exercise Saber Guardian is part of the triad - together with Swift Response and Immediate Response - that make up this year's Defender Europe 25 exercise, organised by the United States European Command (USEUCOM) and conducted by the US Army in Europe and Africa.

The Spanish Armed Forces have been involved in three exercises: “Swift Response”, “Immediate Response” and “Saber Guardian”, which have been deployed in Latvia, Greece and Hungary, respectively, and to which Spain has contributed more than 1,400 military personnel, mostly from ground units, but also from the air.

Thus, for almost two months, Spanish forces have joined in this test of the speed and effectiveness of US troop deployments in Europe to defend the eastern flank alongside NATO allies and partners.