Preparing for collective defence on Exercise Loyal Leda 2026

Loyal Leda is a computer-assisted command post exercise (CAX-CPX) sponsored by the NATO Allied Land Command, during which the participating headquarters train to plan and conduct operations in a high-intensity, multi-domain operational environment. The exercise focused on an Article 5 scenario related to NATO’s collective defence tasks, providing the headquarters with an opportunity to develop their decision-making and operational command capabilities in realistic circumstances.

NATO’s designated training exercise in 2026 involved the headquarters of four allied corps – Multinational Corps Northeast, the 1 German–Netherlands Corps, NATO Rapid Deployable Corps – Spain and the 2 Polish Corps.

The environment the participating staffs were working in enabled them to plan and control land operations in synchronization with other operational domains. The objective of the training was to develop interoperability and strengthen cooperation among multinational headquarters.

Within the framework of the exercise, the participants planned and executed NATO’s defence tasks which involved Hungary as well, so the Hungarian contingent serving in Bydgoszcz was reinforced with further domestic experts for the duration of the exercise. Besides the HDF Defence Staff, the HDF Joint Force Command and the HDF Logistic support Command, Hungarian officers and NCOs also joined the exercise from the Headquarters Multinational Division Centre (HQ MND-C) and from the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE), for example.

The Deputy Commander position of the JFTC Bydgoszcz is currently filled by Hungarian Brigadier General Zoltán Bárány, who is at once the senior national representative of the Hungarian personnel serving in the garrison.

Exercise Loyal Leda is an important element in NATO’s training system. By preparing corps-level headquarters, it contributes to sustaining the Alliance’s operational readiness as well as the effective planning and command of operations conducted within the framework of collective defence.

For the first time, the exercise, which focused on land operations, was synchronized with the activities of the NATO Allied Air Command. This year’s training events were planned and conducted in parallel and in coordination with Exercise Ramstein Ambition 2026, and in line with the challenges of the present, it also encompassed the cyber, maritime and space support domains.

One of the two training centres of the North Atlantic Alliance is located in Stavanger, Norway, and the other is the organization functioning in Bydgoszcz. Their mission is of fundamental importance, as they are responsible for the training and preparation of NATO allied operational forces. Besides providing pre-deployment training for earmarked forces, through the organization and conduct of international exercises, they greatly contribute to sustaining the warfighting readiness of the Alliance and to strengthening interoperability among member states. Since the July 2025 rotation, altogether five Hungarian soldiers have been serving on the staff of JFTC Bydgoszcz under the Hungarian deputy commander.