Várpalota Challenge 2016 – At Halfway Point

The main objective of the Royal Netherlands Army 43rd Mechanized Brigade is to provide adequate training for its two companies declared to the European Union Battle Group (EUBG) during their six-week stay in Hungary. The more than 1,300 foreign troops on exercise are participating in various training scenarios.

Last time, Dutch troops were exercising in Hungary in 2014. As they said, they had learned a lot of useful lessons on that occasion, and that’s why they have chosen the Bakony as their training grounds this year again. The some 250 km2 area they are now using comprises both flat and hilly terrain sectors. Furthermore, this year the weather is favorable for conducting the exercise, as the training audiences can test their skills under all weather conditions from sunshine to rain and to snowfall.

So far they have executed several live fire exercises, but in the remaining weeks they are going to practice tactics (without LFX) and engineer maneuvers (including bridge-laying). The Dutch servicemen deployed to conduct the exercise in Hungary are accompanied by a logistic unit, which is conducting further training events on the HDF Pápa Air Base.

It is also interesting to note that the Dutch soldiers are using a battle simulation system that is in service with the Hungarian Defence Forces too. The upgraded laser transmitters and receivers of the Multiple Integrated Laser Engagement System (MILES) do not only record/detect the precise firing events and hits (“kills"), but also continuously transmit satellite (GPS) signals so that the directing staff can precisely track the movement of the units during the after action review following each battle simulation, and see what went wrong or what they accomplished.

Photo: Gábor Galovtsik