Allied paratroopers team up with Greek SOF (Special Operations Forces) for exercise SWIFT RESPONSE 23 near Thessaloniki in Greece.
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NATO Allied paratroopers from the Netherlands and the United States jumped into Greece alongside Hellenic Army commandos during exercise SWIFT RESPONSE 23.
Soldiers from the US Army’s 173rd Airborne Brigade jumped into a drop zone near Thessaloniki alongside counterparts from the Royal Netherlands Army’s 11 Air Assault Brigade and the Hellenic Army’s 1st Commando-Parachutist Brigade. After securing the drop zone, the soldiers mounted a simulated airfield seizure in Larissa, with help from Hellenic Air Force and CH-47 Chinook helicopters. A detachment of US Air Force A-10C Thunderbolt II jets supported the exercise, performing simulated strikes in support of the ground troops.
This annual US-led exercise focuses on further improving the ability of Allied airborne forces to conduct airborne operations into territory occupied by adversaries. This year’s iteration saw paratroopers land in Greece and Spain. SWIFT RESPONSE 23 is part of DEFENDER 23, a series of exercises focused on testing the United States’ ability to rapidly respond to crises across Europe.
This NATO Multimedia footage includes shots of Dutch, Greek and US paratroopers jumping into Greece and assaulting an airfield, and shots of A-10Cs taking off and landing, as well as interviews held with Hellenic Army and US Air Force officers.
Shot list:-
- 00:00 ~ US C-130 transport aircraft dropping cargo into drop zone
- 00:08 ~ US Air Force C-17 Globemaster II transport aircraft dropping paratroopers near Thessaloniki, Greece
- 00:28 ~ Greek Special Operations soldiers patrolling near drop zone
- 00:52 ~ Dutch paratroopers landing at Larissa air base via Greek and US helicopters
- 01:04 ~ Dutch paratroopers landing at Larissa air base via Greek Air Force CH-47 chinook helicopters
- 01:08 ~ Hellenic Air Force CH-47 flying overhead
- 01:16 ~ Hellenic Air Force CH-47 flying overhead
- 01:22 ~ Dutch paratroopers perform airfield seizure
- 01:35 ~ Greek Special Operations soldiers perform airfield seizure
- 02:25 ~ US Air Force A-10C Thunderbolt II attack jets on flight line near Thessaloniki
- 02:33 ~ A-10 pilots board their aircraft and prepare to take off
- 03:19 ~ A-10s taxi for take-off
- 03:43 ~ A-10 takes off
- 03:55 ~ A-10s land following training mission
- 04:34 ~ Soundbite (Greek) – Hellenic Army Lieutenant Colonel Panagiotis Tsoligkas, Special Warfare Command: “SWIFT RESPONSE is part of a big exercise, DEFENDER EUROPE 23, and is a great opportunity for all countries as well as organisations to work with each other in order to ensure and increase interoperability and stability between them.”
- 05:01 ~ Soundbite (Greek) – Lt Col Panagiotis Tsoligkas (In answer why is it important to exercise): “To create a great force more effective so that we can deal with any security threat, which requires multinational cooperation to deal with it.”
- 05:23 ~ Soundbite – US Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Mike Hilkert, 303rd Fighter Squadron.
- 05:49 ~ Soundbite – Lt Col Mike Hilkert.
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