Sep 25 2020

Exercise BRILLIANT JUMP 2020

NATO will launch one of its biggest/main exercises of the year on Monday (28 September 2020) with naval and land forces from across the Alliance conducting defensive drills over a six week period.

Exercise Brilliant Jump II 20 will demonstrate the readiness and mobility of the Very High Readiness Joint Task Force (VJTF), the spearhead of the Alliance’s NATO Response Force (NRF).

The primary objective of the exercise is to maintain the readiness of VJTF forces such that they can quickly deploy and, concurrently, enhance the logistic interoperability of Allies and partners.

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

Exercise Brilliant Jump II 20 consists of two parts: a maritime phase conducted 28 September to 2 October off the coast of the United Kingdom; followed by a land deployment phase 28 October to 6 November in Lithuania.

NATO Maritime Command, Spanish Maritime Force (SPMARFOR) and Standing NATO Maritime Group 1, comprised of NRP Corte-Real, HMCS Toronto and BNS Leopold I, will participate in phase 1. This group, alongside other Standing Naval Forces, encompasses the maritime element of VJTF20.

"Our exercises seize opportunities for NATO and Allied nations to sharpen warfighting skills by focusing on high-end capabilities,” said Vice Admiral Keith Blount, Commander of NATO Maritime Command. "Exercise Brilliant Jump II 20 showcases that we remain prepared for operations in peace, crisis and conflict and that we are always ready to deploy our forces wherever needed, quickly and effectively.”

In phase 2, NATO will deploy land elements of the VJTF to Lithuania to exercise the deployment of VJTF units, led by Multinational Corps North-East (MNC-NE).

Starting end of October troops and equipment will be deployed from the Czech Republic, Poland and Spain via road, rail, air, and sea to Lithuania. Already in September preparatory activities begun, as part of which troops are moving within territories of these Allies. Upon completion of Brilliant Jump, VJTF units will participate in the Lithuanian-led exercise Iron Wolf before redeploying to their home basis.

Participating land units include a brigade headquarters, spearhead battalion, special forces and CBRN task force headquarters from Poland, a mechanised battalion from the Czech Republic, a mechanised company from Lithuania, and an infantry battalion from Spain.

Overall approximately 2.500 troops from four NATO nations - the Czech Republic, Lithuania, Poland and Spain will be involved in phase 2 of BRJUII20.

For more information contact the Joint Force Command Brunssum Public Affairs Office at pao@jfcbs.nato.int or Commander Hanns-Christian Klasing, Email Hanns-Christian.Klasing@jfcbs.nato.int, Tel +31 (0) 45-526-2117.