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Combined Interoperability CBRN Defence in Air Operations Exercise »Toxic Trip 13« was held in Italian Air Force Base Villafranca di Verona from 20 – 27 September 2013. This year the exercise was hosted by 3rd Wing (3° Stormo) of Italian Air Force. There were more than 300 participants from 14 NATO countries and 2 Partnership for Peace countries. Observers came from different NATO HQs and agencies as well as from United Arab Emirates.

 

 

Toxic Trip 13 was another one in the long line of Toxic Trip exercises (organized since 1995) with the aim

  1. To train different aspects of CBRN defence related with air operations in a multinational scenario.
  2. To train personnel in the deployment of mobile and transportable collective CBRN shelters and use them in conjunction with other nations air assets.
  3. To increase the level of interoperability among NATO and partner nations in order to conduct the procedures of donning/doffing aircrew CBRN ensembles and provide technical support.
  4. To contribute to the understanding for the need of common procedures.
  5. To discuss and analyse the current status of CBRN defence as it relates to present/future requirements and to assess the training implications derived from emerging threats.
  6. To sum up events that evolved from the exercise and draw conclusions that will support nations in improving their CBRN defence training methods and procedures.
  7. To discuss the effects of wearing CBRN IPE (in extreme conditions) STANAG 2412
  8. To provide inputs to NSA about related STANAGs (COLPRO aircrew and CCA)

The scenario put units to multinational joint environment and all incidents played during the exercise required harmonized team work of all CBRN units from 8 nations (BEL, CAN, DEU, FRA, GBR, ITA, USA, and SWE). Incidents included hard landing of a helicopter, diversion of jet fighters from another contaminated air base to our own air base, chemical missile attack on own air base, transport aircraft loading with mission essential equipment in contaminated environment etc.

JCBRN Defence COE participated with one member as leader of the Lessons Identified / Lessons Learned team. The team of 12 members from 9 nations generated more than 140 observations. This will be prioritized and passed to NATO JCBRN Defence Capability Development Group – Training and Exercise Panel for the future work.

At last, it is worth mentioning the excellent host nation support provided by 3rd Wing of ITA Air Force.

See you next year in France in Cazaux AFB for Toxic Trip 2014.

Author: CPT Gorazd STERGAR (SVN)

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