Steadfast Defender 2024 or Steadfast Defender 24 (abbreviated STDE24 or SD24) is the 2024 NATO Steadfast Defender exercise that takes place from 22 January to 31 May 2024 throughout the Trans-Atlantic region. It will be used to practice the response to a hypothetical aggression by a power or adversary against a member country, activating Article 5 (alliance case) of the North Atlantic Treaty. The exercise is part of the series of Steadfast Defender maneuvers. It is the largest NATO maneuver since the end of the Cold War.[1][2][3][4]
 | |
| Date | 22 January – 31 May 2024 |
|---|---|
| Location | Europe |
| Participants | All NATO's members |
Troop strength
The total Troop strength is of over 90,000 soldiers.[5] The United Kingdom has announced that it will provide 20,000 personnel for maneuvers. 16,000 soldiers are announced by the British Army. Among them will be the 7th Light Mechanised Brigade Combat Team. The Royal Navy will provide 2,000 sailors.[6] 15,000 Polish,[7] 10,000 German,[5] and 5,000 Dutch soldiers[8] have also been announced to be participating.
Context
Christopher Cavoli, Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) and US EUCOM commander, has emphasized that Russia has ramped up its military spending in light of its military action in Ukraine, which began in February 2022, and that while many European allies have donated equipment and ammunition to Ukraine, the NATO allies have only a short time to increase their own materiel spending,[9] and their own military preparation for future contingencies.[2] See Foreign involvement in the Russian invasion of Ukraine
Involved nations
All 32 NATO member nations take part in the exercise:[10]
Equipment
The following military equipment is planned to take part in the maneuver:[11]
- Over 50 ships
- Over 80 fighter jets, helicopters and drones
- Approximately 1,100 combat vehicles
Quadriga 2024
In connection with Steadfast Defender 2024, the Bundeswehr will also carry out its Quadriga 2024 exercise. Quadriga 2024 is again divided into four maneuvers, which are intended to practice alerting, relocating troops and combat. The four sub-maneuvers are Grand Center in mid- to late February, Grand North in mid-February to mid-March, Grand South in late April to late May and Grand Quadriga in May 2024. More than 12,000 Bundeswehr soldiers are taking part in the exercise, especially those from the 10th Panzer Division. According to the Inspector General of the Bundeswehr, Carsten Breuer, Quadriga 2024 is "the Bundeswehr’s first exercise in which the defense of NATO’s eastern flank is combined with Germany’s role as a linchpin for the defense of Europe".[12][13]
Dragon-24
As part of the Steadfast Defender 2024, national maneuvers "Dragon-24" will be held by Poland from February 25 to March 14, 2024. This exercise will primarily consist of soldiers from the 11th Armoured Cavalry Division and the 16th Pomeranian Mechanised Division but will also include troops from the Territorial Defence Force, Special Troops Command, Air Force, Navy as well as the NATO Response Force and will primarily take place at Land Forces Training Center Drawsko. Over 3,500 vehicles are planned to be used including 100 tracked vehicles including tanks from the USA, Spain and France. Troops during the exercise are planning to conduct multiple tasks including river crossings with heavy equipment as well as movement of tracked and wheeled vehicles over 300 miles of public roads and off-road terrain.[14][15]
More maneuvers
The maneuver Nordic Response 24 will use Steadfast Defender in 2024 as a roof maneuver[clarification needed], but will not be part of it.[16][17] The maneuvers "Saber Strike 24", "Immediate Response 24" and "Swift Response 24" are also carried out in the course of Steadfast Defender. [14]
References
External links
- Video: NATO's Biggest Military Exercise: Steadfast defender 2024 drills, WION
- German Bundeswehr, Quadriga 2024, official Flyer as PDF (saved by archive.org).