Tomorrow marks the start of the large-scale army exercise “Schutzschild 2024”, which was announced some time ago, begins tomorrowUntil June 21, a total of 7,500 soldiers and civilian staff will be practicing in the federal states of Burgenland, Lower Austria, Styria and Carinthia. For ten years, the largest army-soldiers from Germany, Sweden, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro are also taking part in the largest military exercise in the country for ten years. Military national defense is practiced.
Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner: “Large-scale exercises like this are necessary for a smoothly functioning national defense. In addition to the professional soldiers, the militia is also sending a strong signal as an important integral part of the armed forces with the participation of around 1,000 militia soldiers in this exercise. With ‘Schutzschild 24’, the focus is to be placed on military national defense and the joint training of professional soldiers, militia soldiers and conscripts is to be strengthened. I wish all exercise participants a mission-related and accident-free exercise.”
“Large-scale exercises like these are necessary for a smoothly functioning national defense.”
Verteidigungsministerin Klaudia Tanner
National defense, property protection and fighting against attackers
More than 1,100 land vehicles and 15 aircraft are taking part in the exercise. This includes around 85 light armored vehicles and over 43 armored combat vehicles. Helicopters from the air force, including the new AW169 Lion (-> Status quo with Austria’s AW169), fixed-wing aircraft and Eurofighters.
The main objective of the “Schutzschild 24” exercise is to further develop the operational readiness of the armed forces and to consolidate the core military capabilities for planning and leading a tactical deployment of land, air and special forces in a domestic protection operation.
During the exercise, the brigades work together with the military commands, authorities and emergency organizations as the main combat units. In particular, the protection of lines of movement, areas and objects as well as critical infrastructure are trained during the course of the exercise. Furthermore, the reconnaissance, surveillance and neutralization of attacking groups as well as the rapid deployment of troops and reserves with the cooperation of land, air and special forces are practiced. In addition, this exercise will be linked to a second exercise, the “European Advance 2024” (EURAD24). This second exercise serves to certify and prepare for the “Rapid Deployment Capacity”, the expanded EU Battlegroup, in 2025.
Increased traffic volume at the start of the exercise
The deployment for the exercise will take place with columns of army vehicles from barracks to the exercise areas. Increased traffic volumes are therefore to be expected throughout the day on the first day of the exercise (June 10). There may be small-scale disruptions to public transport. The following roads and localities will be particularly affected: Autobahn A2, A9, federal highways S6, S36, S35, B60, B15; the towns of Klagenfurt, Judenburg, Sankt Michael in der Obersteiermark, Mürzzuschlag, Graz and Götzendorf.
Temporary local disruptions to public transport are to be expected during the two-week exercise. According to a recent press release, the Austrian Armed Forces are “endeavoring to limit these as far as possible” and will generally announce them via the media. In the event of traffic disruptions due to exercise activities, military police will regulate traffic.
Here for further army news.
