DOUPOV, Czechia - Three NATO Allies - Czechia, Latvia and Slovakia - conducted live firing training in mid-September combining their air defence capabilities including night live fires during the multinational exercise Tobruq Arrows 2024. Participants used a complex target set-up to hone their acquisition and interception skills.
Only live firing allows us to verify the readiness of our personnel and their ability to effectively engage targets
“The exercise derived from the primary mission of our Air Defence Missile Battalion is to provide direct support of land units against airborne threats,” said the battalion commander Lieutenant Colonel Petr Řezníček. “Under the tactical exercise scenario of Tobruq Arrows, air defence units deployed to three firing positions from where they engaged enemy aircraft and cruise missiles as well as combat or surveillance drones,” he added. The exercise also verified the data flow and command and control system from the battalion to unit command posts all the way to individual fire elements.
The Slovak air defence crews trained their man-portable infrared homing IGLA systems against flares during the live-firing drills. Photo courtesy Czech Armed Forces.
Czech and Latvian air defence missile crews operated the RBS-70 and RBS-70NG weapon systems to engage an unmanned aerial vehicle towing a target sleeve. Photo courtesy Czech Armed Forces.
“Only live firing allows us to verify the readiness of our personnel and their ability to effectively engage targets,” said the Air Defence Missile Battalion Commander ,Lieutenant Colonel Petr Řezníček Photo courtesy Czech Armed Forces.
The air defence crews practiced airlift of their systems in Czech Air Force Mi-17 helicopters. Deployment training with helicopter units supports tactical mobility which is key in contemporary conflicts, Photo courtesy Czech Armed Forces.
While Czech and Latvian air defence missile crews operated the RBS-70 and RBS-70NG weapon systems to engage an unmanned aerial vehicle towing a target sleeve, their Slovak colleagues trained their man-portable infrared homing IGLA systems against flares. The exercise involved both day and night live firing and participants proved their capability in this field.
Torbruq Arrows culminated in the live fire exercise which exposes the air defence crews to a challenging task. “Only live firing allows us to verify the readiness of our personnel and their ability to effectively engage targets,” said Lieutenant Colonel Řezníček. While operators are able to practice diverse firing tasks in a simulated trainer environment, a real missile launch including the stress situation related to it can only be created in a live environment. “The operators only experience these critical moments when they guide the missile flying at a speed of up to Mach 2 onto the target during live fires,” Lieutenant Colonel Řezníček explained.
During Tobruq Arrows, the air defence crews practiced airlift of their systems in Czech Air Force Mi-17 helicopters. “We are training more and more often with helicopter units, because mobility turns to be key in contemporary conflicts. The air defence missile systems we use in this exercise can quickly and effectively deploy even in rugged terrain, engage the opponent’s assets and then relocate quickly,” explained Lieutenant Colonel Řezníček.
Last but not least, the exercise deepened international cooperation among NATO Allies. “While we have frequently train with our Slovak colleagues, Tobruq Arrows was an opportunity to build and train a combined Czech-Latvian unit under Czech command. This helped us mutually to harmonise our operating procedures enhancing our readiness to defend our airspace together,” Lieutenant Colonel Petr Řezníček concluded.