MEMBERS OF THE Irish Defence forces are taking part in a final training assessment before heading on a 6 month standby period for deployment.
Subject to a political consensus – they can be tasked to any conflict region within a 6,000 mile radius of Brussels alongside troops from Sweden, Finland, Norway, Estonia and Lithuania.
In preparation – 180 personnel are taking part in ‘Exercise Joint Action’ in Sweden.
The Nordic Battlegroup is deployed to a fictional country and in co-operation with civil and non-governmental organisations – are tasked with containing and providing assistance to a severe humanitarian situation.
The Irish Defence Forces form the ISTAR (Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition, Reconniassance) Task Force element of the Battlegroup.
It entails the use of intelligence gathering sensor elements, including reconnaissance and sniper detachments, feeding information into higher echelon intelligence processing and analysis cells.
Source: Defence Forces via Press Office" title="">
Source: Defence Forces via Press Office" title="">
Source: Defence Forces via Press Office" title="">
Source: Defence Forces via Press Office" title="">
Source: Defence Forces via Press Office" title="">
Source: Defence Forces via Press Office" title="">Addressing international media today at the exercise area in Hagshult Airbase, Sweden, Deputy Commander of the Nordic Battlegroup Colonel Howard Berney stated;
The Nordic Battlegroup is capable of being on site in a crisis area within 10 days of an EU decision.
“Over the duration of Exercise Joint Action, the Nordic Battlegroup and all of its constituent parts have proven themselves more than capable of fulfilling this.
If the EU decides to use the Nordic Battlegroup, then it could well be as support in a humanitarian mission, but if required, we also possess decisive military capabilities.
“We have trained and are prepared for both sides of that operational spectrum.”
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
have your say