In the largest airborne operation since the Second World War, paratroopers from France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Romania and Spain jumped into Estonia, Moldova, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania and Sweden as part of exercise Swift Response, proving their ability to conduct complex operations with short notice.
Allied paratroopers jumped into five NATO countries and Moldova as part of exercise Swift Response.
Airborne operations require precise timing, and consummate skill from pilots and paratroopers alike.
Their ability to insert hundreds of soldiers behind enemy lines makes them a strategic asset to NATO Allies.
Because of the inherent difficulty in these missions, frequent practice is required to maintain skills.
That is why the United States leads Swift Response, a yearly airborne exercise that brings Allies together to drop paratroopers throughout Europe.
Conducting these drills together helps Allies familiarise themselves with each other’s practices, improving their ability to work together in the event of a crisis.
Source and photos credit @NATO
