MONS: NATO has concluded its largest live exercise in decades after four months of intensive, pan-Alliance training, a statement said on Saturday. STEADFAST DEFENDER was the first major NATO exercise series where new regional defence plans, approved at the Vilnius Summit, were put into action.
Over 90,000 forces, more than 50 ships, over 80 aircraft flying hundreds of sorties, and more than 1100 combat vehicles from all NATO Allies were involved in the drill.
The Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) General Christopher G. Cavoli said that the exercise demonstrated the incredible strength of the Trans-Atlantic bond between NATO Allies in North America and Europe.
Brigadier General Gunnar Bruegner, SHAPE Assistant Chief of Staff responsible for Collective Training & Exercises said that during STEADFAST DEFENDER 2024, they coordinated, carried out and sustained complex multi-domain operations over several months, and across thousands of kilometres, from the High North to Central and Eastern Europe.
Gunnar Bruegner said that the most important take away is that complex exercises at this scale and ambition remain essential to stress-test their readiness, plans and concepts, and for maintaining their operational coherence and unity.”
