NATO and partner nations help defend a member under attack - Getica Saber 17 exercise, part of SABER GUARDIAN 17. The exercise is based on a fictional scenario where European countries are successively attacked with the intention to gain control over the economic activities of the Black Sea Region countries. A US-led NATO Task Force is assembled to counter the enemy push. This Task Force consists of Romanian, Croatian, Armenian, Montenegrin, Ukrainian and US mechanized infantry, and also Romanian and US tanks, attack helicopters, field artillery, air defense and fighter jets. Defensive operations begin by identifying the enemy’s high value assets, specifically the enemy air defense units. Recon groups use drones to gather intel from the battlefield and mark enemy targets. Fire assets focus on the suppression of enemy air defense with the fires from US multi-launch rocket system (MLRS) and high mobility artillery rocket systems (HIMARS) and Romanian LAROM rocket-artillery. At the same time, Romanian mortars begin firing disruption missions in order to allow US and Croatian companies with a Montenegrin platoon to move forward and establish strong points. As the infantry starts to move forward, two RoAF MIG-21s conduct passes over enemy units in order to destroy them by dropping 100 kg bombs. All the while, US F-15s establish air dominance over the battlefield. Following the MIG-21s, four SOCAT PUMA Attack Helicopters engage hostile forces and destroy enemy recon vehicles with cannon fire and air-to-ground missiles. American AH-64 Apache attack helicopters enter to replace the SOCAT PUMAs in the field and use their 30 mm cannon and rockets to destroy the enemy’s infantry fighting vehicles. At the same time with the infantry advance, Bradley Armoured Fighting vehicles enter the battlefield and engage enemy targets. Romanian, Croatian, Ukrainian and US infantry companies reach a defensive line and establish strong points. While the infantry engage the dismounted enemy troops, attack helicopters engage the enemy mechanized infantry company. Reconnaissance platoon and artillery radars identify enemy main body armored vehicles with the intention to breach our defense. A multinational Armor Company (grup de blindate) under Romanian command consisting of Romanian TR-85M1 "Bizonul" Main Battle Tanks and US M1A2 Abrams Main Battle Tanks move inside the field and engage enemy tanks and armoured vehicles. At the same time, Romanian MLI-84 "Jder" IFV engage armoured target with its SPIKE anti-tank guided missiles while infantry units fire (lanseaza munitie antitanc cu lansatoare) TOW and JAVELINs towards enemy mechanized units. At this time the enemy is under continous fire from US and Romanian heavy artillery, tanks, armoured infantry and UH-64 Apache attack helicopters. The oposing force starts to fall apart, dismounted infantry advance to secure the field while the attack helicopters and main battle tanks provide cover fire. Overhead, Romanian F-16s arrive to survey the battlefield and mantain air supremacy as other units move on the ground.

• published: 16 Jul 2017
• views: 13140