The Paratrooper Brigade integrates into the Multinational Brigade of the Land Component Command during Exercise Steadfast Dart 26

• Following the force projection, the command and control system has been integrated with the headquarters of the Italian Army's Alpini Brigade Julia, which is leading the ARF this year.

At the Bergen Training Area (Germany), the execution phase of Steadfast Dart 26 (STDT26) has commenced. This exercise is NATO’s largest annual multidomain training exercise and involves the deployment of the Allied Reaction Force (ARF), with a significant participation of Spanish Armed Forces across all component commands..

BRIPAC has deployed the Lauria Tactical Group, formed on the basis of the 2nd Paratrooper Battalion Roger de Lauria. This combat unit has been reinforced with additional capabilities, including field artillery and air defence artillery batteries, an engineer company, and cavalry reconnaissance teams.

The Lauria Tactical Group is commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Santiago Jiménez Molina, Commander of the 2nd Parachute Battalion Roger de Lauria. According to him, this NATO exercise “is demonstrating that the force can be activated, deployed and integrated at great distance from its home bases without any loss of operational effectiveness.” As part of this logistical effort, “we have projected personnel, vehicles and command and control systems under very demanding timelines, and within less than 72 hours we were fully prepared to conduct tactical actions,” the Lieutenant Colonel concluded.

In addition, the Spanish Army contributes to the ARF 25 LCC with two NH90 helicopter crews from the Manoeuvre Helicopter Battalion (BHELMA) III, part of the Army Airmobile Forces (FAMET), operating from Hohn Air Base (Germany).

The initial days of the exercise have been marked by particularly challenging weather conditions, including snow, low temperatures and environmental constraints. This has provided an opportunity to test procedures in a highly realistic scenario. Despite these demanding conditions, the Tactical Group is conducting a wide range of activities at the Bergen Training Area, such as forest combat operations, live-fire training with all deployed weapon systems, operational planning and logistical activities. Likewise, the helicopters are delivering excellent performance, with no significant maintenance issues or technical failures reported.

Essential logistical support to accomplish the mission

Meanwhile, the National Support Element (NSE), based on the 6th Parachute Logistics Group, has fully deployed its capabilities to sustain ARF 25 operational readiness throughout the deployment. To this end, the NSE has led the entire strategic process of force projection, deployment and sustainment of the Spanish contingent.

According to the Commander of the NSE, Lieutenant Colonel Javier Vicente Escrig Aparicio, this exercise has been a demanding test of his unit’s operational capability and resilience. “We have spent many months planning and actively participating in international forums to prepare the RSOI (Reception, Staging, Onward Movement and Integration) process, which has been decisive in transforming strategic deployment into effective combat capability.” This process has encompassed everything from the reception of personnel and equipment in Germany to their full integration into the area of operations. The Lieutenant Colonel explained that in order to achieve this, “the NSE has coordinated movements, supply and support in close cooperation with the Host Nation and the Allied logistics structure, ensuring coherence between multinational planning and national execution,”

Exercise Steadfast Dart 26 is conceived as a deploy-ex (deployment exercise), as its primary objective is to demonstrate the ability to deploy and redeploy forces rapidly, effectively and safely. In this context, the RSOI process is of central importance, as it is not only about reaching the area of operations, but doing so with cohesion, sustainability and full operational readiness, while also ensuring an orderly and efficient redeployment. All of this directly contributes to reinforcing NATO’s credibility, responsiveness and collective deterrence posture.

Upon completion of the interoperability activities in Steadfast Dart 26, the Spanish Army, integrated into the German Army’s Armoured Brigade 21, will take part in NATO Exercise Quadriga, which is conceived as a vigilance and deterrence activity on the Alliance’s eastern flank.