France conducts its largest military exercise in decades, Orion 23, with NATO forces (mastersubs)

 

 

France is hosting its biggest military exercise in decades, with NATO Allies. Exercise Orion involves up to 19,000 personnel in total and assets from eight NATO Allies including host nation France, and focuses on defensive operations on land, in the air, at sea and in cyberspace.
Synopsis
France has launched its biggest military exercise in decades, together with its NATO Allies. The second phase of Exercise Orion 23 involves 7,000 personnel and assets from France and several Allied countries, including Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States, and focuses on defensive operations on land, in the air, at sea and in cyberspace.
The drills are conducted over several months, starting in late February and ending in May 2023. The peak of the exercise is scheduled from late April to early May, in north-eastern France. During this phase, around 12,000 troops will be deployed on the ground and in the skies to repel a simulated high-intensity attack.
Transcript
--SOUNDBITE (FRENCH WITH ENGLISH SUBS)—
Captain Thibault, 8th Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment

“It’s a bit like a rugby or football team. Attack and defence have to work together.”

--TEXT ON SCREEN--

IN FRANCE’S
BIGGEST EXERCISE
IN DECADES

UP TO 19,000 NATO TROOPS

ARE PUTTING THEIR
COLLECTIVE DEFENCE
SKILLS TO THE TEST

--SOUNDBITE (FRENCH WITH ENGLISH SUBS)—
Captain Thibault, 8th Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment

“The advantage of these exercises is that they mobilise the three armies: air, sea and land forces. Little by little we increase the training requirements until we all work together.”

--TEXT ON SCREEN--
DRILLS LIKE THESE
ARE ESSENTIAL

TO MAKE SURE NATO
IS READY

TO DEFEND
EVERY INCH OF ALLIED TERRITORY

AGAINST ANY
POTENTIAL
ATTACK

Hmm.  I wonder why the powers that be felt a need to alarm European citizens that Russia was gonna attack a NATO country?

From my chair that was nowhere in the cards but yet here we are.

Why?

Next I have to wonder how we would stack up our NATO allies.  Poland is in my opinion the most powerful ground force now but they're obsessed with the Russians.  France I believe has the best balanced force and is truly capable of worldwide operations...limited ops but worldwide.  The UK?  Not sure anymore.  Their Army appears to be in shambles but they have excellent infantry.  Their airborne, Marines and SAS/SBS are top notch.  Their Navy?  Not sure.  The others all have niche forces that are capable, some extremely capable in certain areas.

Then we have Germany.

The US protects Europe and Europe protects Germany.

Forgot about Italy.  They also have a well balanced force I would think is second to France in the EU.  Weird setup for their Marines/Amphibious Army but again they're capable.