Paladin Strike NATO Exercise Showcases Interoperability

Soldiers from six NATO nations have come together at Camp Adazi in Latvia for land exercises aimed at enhancing familiarity and cohesion between the allied forces.

Units from the U.K. and U.S. linked up with their counterparts from Canada, Latvia, Romania and Spain for field exercise Paladin Strike between August 5 and 8. The manoeuvres took place at the Adazi Military Camp Training Area; situated about 20km outside the Latvian capital, Riga, it is the biggest training area in the Baltics.

The aim of the exercise was for troops from the different nations to familiarize themselves with each other’s tactics and capabilities, ensuring they can work together and communicate effectively.

During Paladin Strike, U.S. Army soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, worked alongside British troops to act as opposing forces while Canadian, Latvian, Romanian and Spanish soldiers played the role of a unified NATO force.

“The purpose of Paladin Strike is for the NATO Forward Land Force Battlegroups to be able to exercise their command and control nodes and their communications with their allied partners attached to the battle group itself,” explained U.S. Army Capt. Nicholas Olivares, the chief communications officer of the exercise, assigned to 2-12 Cav. Regt., 1ABCT, 1CD.

NATO partners were able to familiarize themselves with different tactics, equipment and vehicles. Many partner nation soldiers had their first chance to see a U.S. M3 Bradley Cavalry Fighting Vehicle up close.

The versatile tracked armored reconnaissance vehicle is a member of a family of Bradley Fighting Vehicles that the U.S. military has used for several decades with several modifications and improvements during their service.

Read more on the U.S. Army website