The U.S. Army conducts a live-fire exercise at a training range in Poland during the Defender Europe 20 military exercise, Aug. 11, 2020.
Last week, the United States launched Defender Europe 21, one of the largest military exercises in Europe. This week, in an effort to deter the Kremlin and counter the threat from the Chinese Communist Party, Army units from the United States, Estonia and the United Kingdom began drills to fire rockets at long-range targets.
“EuroDefender 21 is an Army-led exercise, but this year there is significant air and naval participation. This year’s exercise, which involves some 28,000 fighters from 26 nations, including the United States, focuses on building interoperability between NATO allies and partners as well as a range of capability training.
A U.S. Army artillery unit launched operations in Estonia on Wednesday (5), marking the start of the six-week rocket artillery exercise. The exercise, which will extend from the Arctic to Africa, showcases the results of the unit’s recent upgrades.
“Fires Shock is a U.S. Army-led exercise in Europe and Africa that dovetails with the large series of European Defender 21 exercises and centers on the Army’s greatly enhanced long-range artillery capabilities. Army units from the United States, Estonia and the United Kingdom practiced firing rockets with a range of up to 300 miles.
Brig. Gen. Christopher Norrie, commander of the U.S. Army’s 7th Group Training Command, told reporters during a media teleconference that the Army’s top priority for modernization is to enhance its long-range firepower, which will be on full display in Estonia.
“There will be a different form of response from Russian Federation, like usual military exercises, and we are preparing to deal with them,” said Maj. Gen. Indrek Sirel, deputy commander of Estonia’s defense forces.
Russia, which amassed some 100,000 troops and heavy equipment on the Ukrainian border a few weeks ago, withdrew several thousand in late April under international pressure, but its threat to Ukraine and NATO remains.
While the training ground for this military exercise is in Europe, the Army is actively seeking to modernize its long-range firepower, not because of Russia, but primarily in response to the threat from Communist China. In the Pacific, where small islands are often thousands of miles apart, the Army needs precision long-range firepower capabilities to protect Navy ships in potential conflicts with the Chinese Communists.
It’s long-range precision fires, and those long-range fires are extremely important, said Gen. James McConville, chief of staff of the U.S. Army.
At the same time, the Army’s modernization also includes the use of ultra-high-sonic technology. Acting U.S. Secretary of the Army John Whitley told members of Congress during the budget fight: “Ultrahigh-speed technology is a key capability for us to win. Your funding, and the funding in your ’22 request and subsequent requests, will be used to initiate the assisted fielding capability.”
Whitley further explained that especially in the Pacific, where the environment requires special technologies.
“The European Defender 21 exercise will demonstrate the operational readiness, lethality and interoperability of the joint force and will conclude in June.
Video: U.S. soldiers build a fuel distribution bay ashore during EuroDefender 21 to deliver oil to other forces.
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