Strategic Airlift Capability Supports Deployment of Troops and Equipment for Exercise Trident Juncture 2015

The live exercise phase of Trident Juncture 2015 is hosted by Italy, Spain and Portugal. From 21 October to 6 November, the exercise takes place throughout the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. While not participating in Trident Juncture 2015, Strategic Airlift Capability C-17s are flying several missions in order to deploy SAC member nations’ troops and equipment.

Preparing for Trident Juncture 2015, SAC member nations have been able to utilize the airlift capacity of C-17 cargo jets on missions both within Europe and across the Atlantic. At a request from the United States, a SAC C-17 transported equipment of 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division from Hunter Army Airfield to Zaragoza, Spain on 12 to 14 October.

In accordance with the principle of pooling and sharing Euro-Atlantic defence capabilities, transportation requests from SAC member nations Poland and Slovenia were combined into a single airlift mission. On 17 to 18 October, a SAC C-17 transported Polish and Slovenian troops and equipment to Lisbon, Portugal and Zaragoza, Spain.

Aforementioned two missions, along with all other SAC flights in support of its member nations’ participation in Trident Juncture 2015, have been successful. The SAC C-17s based in Pápa Air Base, Hungary, have provided a cost-efficient and practical solution to deploying troops and equipment across Europe.