International cooperation in Újmajor

“The international forces are arriving in Hungary in six-month rotations. Currently we, as framework nation, are cooperating with Italian, Croatian and Turkish personnel. We immediately bring the units under joint procedures, so all platoons are conducting the same live fire training and exercises. This enables us to carry out battalion-level tasks like the ones we are doing today” – told us Lieutenant Colonel Botond Hetényi, the commander of the multinational battle group in Újmajor.

Some 800 Italian, Croatian and Hungarian troops were deployed to the training area, joined by the cooperating combat support elements of the American Exercise Steppe Archer, whereas the HDF 86th Helicopter Wing made its helicopters available.

“The different parts can only maneuver together, as they represent diverse capabilities in the FLF BG. The Italian infantry company mainly has a combat support role, while the Croatian contingent is specialized in counter-insurgency operations. Of course, they can be deployed for conventional procedures as well” – said Lieutenant Colonel Hetényi.

According to the training scenario, the battle group was tasked with seizing enemy installations, strongholds and areas. The training audience, however, did not know the precise tasks in advance, and even had to handle some unforeseeable situations.

Having been placed under the command of the HDF 11th Motorised Infantry Brigade since last autumn, the FLF BG strengthens NATO’s position on its eastern flank. In recent years, several multinational FLF BGs were set up in countries of the region, in Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania and Slovakia.

On 1 July, General Dr. Gábor Böröndi, Chief of HDF Defence Staff and Brigadier General Balázs Szloszjár, Deputy Commander, HDF Joint Operations Command inspected the training event on the spot.