RSS
Noble Jump 2017 exercise: VJTF convoys roll into Romania via Giurgiu-Ruse border crossing
The first of the eight convoys of the Very High Readiness Joint Task Force (VJTF) that are to participate in the Noble Jump 2017 exercise entered Romania Thursday morning coming from Bulgaria via the Giurgiu - Ruse border crossing.
''We are witnessing a historic moment. The Very High Readiness Joint Task Force is here and there we see it, entering Romania's territory. Noble Jump is a short-notice exercise that was planned by the Allied Joint Force Command Naples alongside the Ministry of National Defence; it is led by the Rapid Reaction Allied Corps and also involves the Multinational Division set by Romania at NATO's disposal. At the same time, the exercise is extremely important because it proves the Alliance's capacity and speed to respond to the threats we are currently facing," Land Forces commander, Maj. Gen. Marius Harabagiu said on Thursday at the Giurgiu border crossing.
He underscored that the exercise is very important for Romania, because "as a nation, we are proving today the capacity, will and determination to perform a typical military operation." Harabagiu also thanked the state authorities for supporting the Army to successfully carry out the operation.
Director of the Noble Jump 2017 operation, British Major General Ian Cave, also attending the event, said that this exercise will test the operational capabilities of the VJTF elements and the level of implementation in Bulgaria and Romania of the Readiness Action Plan to increase the Alliance's response capability.
Today's exercise is very important because it demonstrates the strength of response and the reaction capacity. The message to the Romanians is that they are not alone, they are in the strongest military alliance, Ian Cave said.
Eleven NATO states participate in the Noble Jump 2017 multinational war games. Throughout the day of Thursday, until 20.00 hrs, the eight VJTF convoys with approximately three hundred troops and over 150 fighting vehicles and personnel carriers will roll through the Giurgiu — Ruse border crossing, heading for the 'Getica' Land Forces Training Center in Cincu, Brasov County.
The rapid reaction war vehicles will travel along the Giurgiu — Bucharest — Pitesti — Ramnicu Valcea — Sibiu — Cincu route and are accompanied by rapid intervention helicopters.