Oct 22 2020

Video: Exercise Brilliant Jump 2020 starts final phase

MONS, Belgium - NATO’s annual exercise Brilliant Jump 2020 (BRJU20), designed to increase and demonstrate the readiness and mobility of the Very High Readiness Joint Task Force (VJTF), enters its final phase on 28 October 2020.

In the first phase of this annual exercise which was conducted in January this year, units comprising of the NATO Response Force (NRF) 2020 were activated at very short notice to test and improve their agility. Now it’s time to ensure that agility has been sustained. The second phase of Brilliant Jump 2020 was intentionally designed in two parts: a primarily maritime phase was conducted from 28 September to 02 October with the deployment of four NATO frigates in the frame of Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 (SNMG1). This is now followed by a deployment phase over land from 28 October to 06 November to Lithuania.

Like the maritime part, this second part of Brilliant Jump II will demonstrate the capability to timely deploy and integrate the NATO Response Force with other NATO partner nation forces as a contribution to NATO’s deterrence and defence.

The core element of NATO VJTF is presently fulfilled by the Polish 21st Mountain Brigade. Reinforced by a Spanish and a Czech Battalion, these troops will deploy to Lithuania beginning on 30th October in what the military calls a Deployment Exercise. The aim is to train the capability of the Force to move to a designated area in a certain timeframe and be ready to fulfil its tasks once there.

Thereby, NATO demonstrates its responsiveness within its area of operation by practicing a complex deployment operation run by the VJTF in cooperation with local and regional partners. Further, the exercise constitutes a practical demonstration of NATO’s capability and readiness.

By choosing Lithuania as the area of deployment, NATO clearly demonstrates its solidarity with its eastern flank partners in Europe.

The exercise shall also serve as an example that NATO is capable of operating professionally even in times of global pandemic. Precautionary measures to prevent the spread of the virus will be taken and restrictions of the host nation respected.

NATO is committed to transparency and risk reduction. This exercise was long-planned and announced well in advance. NATO respects its international obligations with regard to military exercises. Brilliant Jump 2020 has been notified to the OSCE.

Video by SHAPE Public Affairs Office