CERKLJE OB KRKI, Slovenia – For the sixth consecutive time, the Republic of Slovenia is set to host exercise Adriatic Strike 2017, a Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC) exercise, from Jun. 4 to 10, 2017.

 

500 NATO Allied and partner personnel will take part, including 250 military from Belgium, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, and the United States of America. Partners Austria, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia*  and Montenegro will also participate while Jordan will act as an observer.

 

A realistic training scenario is important for comprehensive JTAC training; the opportunity to work with aircraft from several nations helps achieve the goal of maintaining JTAC currency of skills and furthering integration and interoperability. During the exercise, Host Nation Slovenia, Allies Croatia, Czech Republic, Italy and Hungary and Partners Austria and Montenegro will operate helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft.

 

Participating aircraft will be based at Cerklje ob Krki Air Base or fly from their home base. The main Slovenian Armed Forces training range at Postojna will see live-fire from aircraft, tanks, mortars and guns creating a close-to-reality environment for cooperation of JTACs with army commanders on the ground and pilots in cockpits. In the other five locations across Slovenia, Close Air Support (CAS) will be simulated only. All training will take place in pre-coordinated segregated airspace and safety will take top priority during the three training windows per day.

 

JTACs direct the action of aircraft providing CAS and provide terminal attack controls. They support the Ground Force Commanders on the battlefield, ensure target engagement is accurate and minimize risk of fratricide or collateral damage.

 

Adriatic Strike 2017 will be officially launched during an opening ceremony at Jernej Molan Barracks on Jun. 4 at Cerklje ob Krki Air Base.