With the “Komet 2023” exercise, the German Airborne Brigade 1 “Saarland” from Saarlouis has been preparing intensively for classic airborne operations in national and alliance defense over the past few days. A 150-strong contingent from the Austrian Armed Forces was among the approximately 2,000 soldiers practising.
Using the excellent facilities of the Army Combat Training Center, Parachute Regiment 26, from Zweibrücken and Merzig, and Parachute Regiment 31 from Seedorf, as well as the airborne reconnaissance and airborne engineer companies of the brigade, together with the Austrian soldiers (-> here you can find the latest army news) practiced the attack on the urban agglomeration of Schnöggersburg after an airborne landing. Schnöggersburg is considered the most modern urban training facility in Europe. It resembles a small town and is laid out very realistically, with wide streets, bodies of water, tall buildings and even subway shafts. City life with motor vehicles and extras can also be depicted. In this terrain, the forces have to assert themselves against a heavily armed, professional and well-prepared exercise opponent. https://militaeraktuell.at/das-bundesheer-entscheidet-sich-fuer-die-embraer-c-390/ “The special challenges of an airborne operation with the highest physical stress, combat in an isolated situation, only minimal equipment after parachute jump and the complex build-up of skills in the subsequent airborne landing were mastered excellently by the soldiers of the brigade with physical robustness, willingness to perform and the right mix of planning and flexibility in implementation”, as stated in a current Bundeswehr press release (-> here you can find the latest Bundeswehr news). And further: “The intensive support and highly professional assistance from the command personnel and the training and exercise unit of the Army Combat Training Center was indispensable for us.”
Note: You can read a detailed report on “Komet23” in the next issue of Militär Aktuell – Click here to order your subscription.
