The Multinational Battle Group Slovakia has earned NATO Combat Ready status, following its performance in the certification exercise Strong Cohesion 2023.
The intensive three-day drill took place at the Lešt’ Training Centre in Slovakia between 26-28 September 2023.
Units from several European nations, specifically the Czech Republic, Germany, Slovakia, and Slovenia, participated in the exercise. Command for the training fell under the Slovak 2nd Mechanised Brigade.
“The certification took place under the command and control of the Slovak 2nd Mechanised Brigade from Prešov,” Colonel Miroslav Vybíhal, Battle Group Commander of the Czech Armed Forces commented.
He further acknowledged, “The team of Brigadier General Róbert Kecsö managed to create challenging conditions for the certified battalion, in which all aspects of combat operations were tested.”
NATO say here that the exercise involved joint training across various unit levels, from squad to battalion.
The process showcased an impressive array of over 300 pieces of military equipment. This collection featured Czech BVP-2s, Slovenian VALUKs, German Leopard 2A6 tanks, TATRA 815-7 PRAM, Black Hawk helicopters, and cutting-edge unmanned aerial vehicles.
Reaffirming the battle group’s competence, Colonel Miroslav Vybíhal, the commander of the Multinational Battle Group, stated, “We are able to perform the operational task assigned to us.”
Slovak Embassy in London now has a new Defence Attache with excellent English language skills and experience in Afghanistan among other places; hopefully, he’ll encourage greater British training opportunities.
I would assume the Blackhawks operated out of Sliac AFB rather than Presov which is the ‘home’ of Slovak rotor operation whereas Sliac was/will become fast jet. Lest is 20mins south of Sliac and British Army Reserve units have trained there in the past.
Of course, it is another armoured group bordering Ukraine – the Russians will be happy 😉