Monsters in the Pápa Exercise

The ETAP-T-18 Exercise began on June 10, 2018, in the organisation of the European Air Transport Command (EATC) and the European Tactical Airlift Centre (ETAC) at the HDF Pápa Air Base. The principal objective of the training exercise is that the participating crews of the member states perform operational planning and tactical operations tasks. During the training they are going to practice air drops and various flight procedures as well. The missions will be carried out in the designated airspaces of Hungary, both in daytime and night-time conditions.

Lt.-Col Zoltán Vicai, the Deputy Commander of the Air Base in response to our question indicated that in the exercise the aircraft and soldiers of the air force of eight nations (Belgian, British, French, Dutch, Polish, German, Norwegian, Italian) take part, and the Hungarian Defence Forces (HDF) contribute to the training with an An-26 transport aircraft, a MI-8/17 helicopter, a JAS-39 aircraft, KUB and Mistral air-defence systems, and further air support equipment. HDF Pápa Air Base undertakes most of the staging of the event. “We have been preparing for the implementation of the exercise for a year now, beginning from the infrastructural investments through purchasing the fuel, up to the execution of every logistical detail" – said Lt.-Col. Vicai.

The exercise ends on June 22.