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Foreign operations – the key to security

The Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, H.E. Jan Fischer, visited Czech troops in Kosovo on August 19th, 2009. The Prime Minister was accompanied by Vice-Premier and Minister of Defence, H.E. Martin Barták. Apart from visiting Czech deployment at Camp Sajkovac, Prime Minister Fischer and Minister Barták had a meeting with Commander KFOR, Lieutenant-General Giuseppe E. Gay, the President of the Republic of Kosovo, H.E. Fatmir Seidiu, and the Prime Minister, H.E. Hashim Thaci.

Since NATO is considering progressive downsizing of KFOR’s force posture, Prime Minister Fischer and Defence Minister Barták were particularly interested in the current security situation. “The transformation of KFOR and reduction of deployed Allied forces is contingent on a positive development of security situation in Kosovo. The Czech Republic again plans to assign a sizeable contingent next year. The number of Czech service personnel in Kosovo in the years ahead depends on the course of action taken by NATO“, said Minister Barták.

At present, a Czech Armed Forces contingent with authorised strength of 550 personnel operates as a part of KFOR. The 15th contingent’s core comprises the members of the 131st Artillery Battalion the 13th Artillery Brigade based in Pardubice. The members of the 14th Logistic Support Brigade Pardubice also form a large part of the force. In addition to that, the contingent includes soldiers from 54 units and components of the Armed Forces of the Czech Republic according to required occupational specialties. Women comprise approximately 8% of the total number of contingent members.

Photos by MAJ Jana ZECHMEISTEROVÁ

Visit in Kosovo

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CZECH ARMED FORCES REVIEW1/2009Published by Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic, Presentation and Information Centre

Address:Rooseveltova 23161 05 Praha 6Czech RepublicTel.: + 420-973 215 553Tel./fax: + 420-973 215 569E-mail: caft@army.cz

Identification number: 60162694

www.army.cz

Date of publication: 21 August 2009

Editor-in-chief: Jan Procházka

Layout: Jaroslava Lažanová

Translation:Jan Jindra

Printed by: TISKÁRNA K-TISK s. r. o.

Distributed by AVIS:Rooseveltova 23 161 05 Praha 6Czech Republic Tel.: + 420-973 215 602

Registration number: MK ČR E 18227

ISSN 1803-2125

© MoD Czech Republic Presentation and Information Centre

General, the Czech Republic’s six-month Presidency of the Council of the European Union is over. In spite of that, what did this internationally important stage of the membership of the Czech Republic in the European Union meant for your staff?

By all means, it was a great experience of intensively interacting in an international environment, while the whole team of the military section of the Czech Republic’s permanent representation in the EU was heavily involved, as well as the Permanent Delegation to NATO, in pushing individual priorities of the European

Security and Defence Policy. Our work primarily focused on three key areas: military capability development, military operations of the European Union and last but not least the European Union’s partnerships with other international organisations, that is with NATO, the UN and the African Union. That was the framework we operated throughout the whole presidency. In order for us to perform successfully, and I am con dent we attained highly positive results in all areas, it was essential to set the framework for the ow of information not only with the ACR General Staff and the Ministry of Defence, but also with our principal partners on the part of the EU – with the

relevant Directorate of the Council’s General Secretariat, EU Military Staff, the Chairman of the Military Committee of the European Union and his of ce and last but not least with the EU Political and Security Committee (PSC/COPS) section at the Permanent Representation.

As you discuss information ow, or communication, how did you manage to harmonise civilian and military aspects of the Presidency and nd a common language?

The fact that together we have managed this process successfully and set the system right is attested by the results of the Czech Presidency. We managed to support all important assignments and organise events, arrange all sessions of a host of boards, committees, subcommittees and promote our joint priorities there. There was an outstanding cooperation with Ambassadress Milena Vicenová, the Head of the Czech Republic’s Permanent Representation in the EU, with Ambassador Šrámek, Head of the PSC/COPS section and his team, who provided the most substantial contribution to the performance of our assignments. There was also an excellent cooperation with the team of the Chief of General Staff and the First Deputy Chief of General Staff as well as with experts from the MoD Defence Policy and Strategy Division. Over the past six months, we did not encounter practically any special emergency moment that we would not be able, in collaboration with other components, to tackle successfully. Speaking about the sphere of communication, I should mention the excellent cooperation we enjoyed from the part of the Military Committee, especially the Chairman EUMC, General Henri

Bentégeat. In aggregate, all of these aspects meant that we were able to arrange, plan, coordinate and organise dozens of appointments and meetings, develop and present hundreds of policy documents for further deliberation. The EU Military Committee Working Group/Headline goal Task Force (EUMCWG/HTF), led by Lieutenant-Colonel Imrich Luky, bore the biggest burden. His team comprising LTC Petr Pargač, LTC Zdeněk Petráš and WO2 Petr Solár, managed to comprehensively prepare and steer seventy-two meetings with highly positive results.

Communication skills are closely associated with the art of achieving consensus, which is vital to break impasses. Is it demanding?

Sometimes it takes an hour before consensus is achieved on a single sentence, sometimes longer …

General, could you discuss achievements in individual areas speci cally?

Of course. Based on adjusted contributions by nine Member States, the Force Catalogue 2007 (FC 07) was updated to be consequently promulgated by the EU Military Committee as Force Catalogue 2009. As a part of evaluating these contributions, an analysis was performed of the impact on possible reduction in de ned shortfalls in EU military capabilities. In the course of the Czech Presidency, the HTF nalised the Single Progress Report on EU military capabilities development, which was used for the development of the Presidency report on progress in EU military capabilities development.

Interview with Lieutenant-General Jaroslav Kolkus, the Czech Republic’s Military Representative in NATO and the EUIn the rst semester of 2009, from January 1st till June 30th, the Czech Republic held the Presidency of the Council of the European Union for the rst time in history. The Czech Presidency’s priorities were three-fold: economy, energy security and Europe without barriers. The efforts to perform individual programs involved many governmental departments, including the Ministry of Defence, which focused on three key areas of the Presidency. First, development of military capabilities; second, operations. and; thirdly, cooperation with strategic partners, especially the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation. Lieutenant-General Jaroslav Kolkus, the Military Representative of the Czech Republic in NATO and the EU, elaborates on how successful the MoD Department was in ful lling its assignments.

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Cover photos by 3rd Czech Contingent PRT Logar

On June 26th, 2009, the Czech-Slovak Battle Group achieved its full operational capability and has been on standby for possible deployment since July 1st, 2009.

”For the Collective Shield exercise, we selected a standard situation commonly occurring on foreign operations,“ explains Captain Lada Kovářová of the 4th Rapid Deployment Brigade. “The patrol is deliberately following an unpaved road. That is also characteristic of foreign-deployed operations. In these demanding conditions, it often takes a whole day to cover a one-hundred kilometre distance that you would normally make in two hours.“

Meanwhile, a small battle breaks out on the road. Soldiers practise their basic tactical drills, such as ambush response, drills when being shot at and round defence. They engage the enemy assaulting them from cover.

“At this moment, the commander concludes that he is unable to manage the situation using his assets. He requests headquarters to send a quick reaction team and air support. The convoy also carries a Forward Air Controller (FAC), who designates the target for the air and controls them onto

A convoy of six military reconnaissance vehicles of the Czech-Slovak Battle Group on patrol moves along a road in front of us. Their mission is to gather information on the security situation and establish contacts with people from local administration. It just takes a fraction of second and the convoy halts on an IED explosion.

the target,“ shows Captain Kovářová. “Once any of the troops gets wounded, the commander calls in MEDEVAC as well. Apart from that, he has troops in his unit with medical speciality. Those are not necessarily medical doctors, but they can be so-called combat medics, soldiers serving as machine gunners, but fully trained in all rst aid procedures, including drip-feeding.“

To repel the enemy, soldiers are using 12.7-milimetre DShK machine guns,

AGS 17 grenade launchers and Swedish-made Carl Gustav RPGs.

All training is done using live ammunition, including the

heaviest calibres. Such action must be completely natural for the troops. They should perform subconsciously, in

order not to be taken aback when assaulted by opposing

forces. The requested air support

appears in the sky. Mi-24 Hind helicopters rst perform a reconnaissance over ight

and then strike the designated

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In the framework of the Battle Group, up to 2,600 troops are prepared by the Czech and Slovak Republic to deploy for a combat or a humanitarian aid operation anywhere on the globe within the radius of 6,000 kilometres from Brussels.The core of the Czech force comprises subunits of the 43rd airborne mechanised battalion, and the Slovak Republic has plans to deploy 400 service personnel. “Forces must deploy in designated area within ten days from the relevant political decision. To that effect, we have contracted out for airlift and for sealift as well,“ said the Chief of General Staff Czech Armed Forces, Lieutenant-General Vlastimil Picek in the FOC ceremony and added: “According to operational requirements, the force will be augmented with specialists including pilots, medical doctors and support and logistic personnel.“

The joint combined unit will have its Operation Headquarters in Potsdam, Germany, manned by other of cers from EU Members States. EU OHQ Potsdam is one of the ve headquarters exercising command and control over the battle groups. So far, Battle Groups under the EU colours have never been called upon to intervene. The Czech-Slovak BG is planned to deploy approximately 1,600 to 1,800 service personnel. A eld hospital is also ready in Hradec Králové, able to deploy operation rooms within 12 hours, with two surgical teams available and a stock of 30 days of supply. However, the shape and composition of the Battle Group would be speci cally tailored to given operation mandated through consensus of European Union political leaders. The long-lasting preparation of the CZE/SVK EU BG culminated in the Sharp Response 2009 exercise, but also included certi cation exercise Collective Shield.

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”Logar Provincial Reconstruction Team” has been a familiar term in the Czech Republic for quite some time already. Over more than a year’s history of this joint project by the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, the Logar PRT became synonymous with reconstruction and renewal of Afghanistan. The mission of the Provincial Reconstruction

The 3rd contingent PRT Logar differs from the previous two in many respects. First, the number of Czech troops operating in Logar increased from the original 190 to 275 at present. Reinforcements did not pertain to the Czech contingent only. The increased number of U.S. forces had a major impact on the situation in the province, and consequently on operations of the Czech contingent. The Czech contingent operates in the order of battle and under operational command of the U.S. Task Force Spartan. For that reason, command and control system needed to be harmonised with the system U.S. forces use. On the other hand, augmentation of U.S. forces in the Logar Province enabled our soldiers to make a greater use of U.S. assets and expand their operations into six districts out of the total of seven districts comprising the Logar

Team includes supporting the Afghani central government in provinces, assistance on reconstruction of the country on provincial level and the provision of a safe and secure environment for these activities.

At present, the province of Logar is the area of operations for the third contingent of the Armed Forces of the Czech Republic (ACR). The core of the 3rd contingent’s military component comprises service personnel of the 41st Airborne Mechanised Battalion Žatec. The contingent is augmented with soldiers from HQ 4th Rapid Deployment Brigade and the 43rd Airborne Mechanised Battalion Chrudim as well as personnel from additional twenty-six ACR units and organisations. Members of the 4th Rapid Deployment Brigade form 76 percent of the 3rd contingent. The contingent’s commander is Lieutenant-Colonel Petr Procházka, an of cer with experience from foreign operations in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo and Afghanistan, where he served in 2007 as contingent commander and chief of staff of the Provincial Reconstruction Team Feyzabad.

The PRT also comprises a civilian component, currently formed by 10 experts sent to Afghanistan by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic. They are primarily civil engineers, and agriculture, media and project management experts.

The overall mission of the Provincial Reconstruction Team is identical for all contingents. What does change, however, in the context of current situation in Afghanistan, is the operational assignment. The 3rd contingent PRT Logar assumed its operational assignment on February 23rd, 2009. In the 3rd contingent’s operations plan, the assignment divides into four lines: security, development of the Afghani National Security Forces, supporting the Afghan Government, and assistance on development and reconstruction of the country. The rst line of operations is primarily the mission of the PRT military component. The military and civilian components work together to the effect of developing the Afghani National Security Forces. Cooperation with Afghani Government on assistance projects and participation in aid projects are the principal mission of civilian experts, but that does not mean this line of operations would have no involvement of the military component. “We are succeeding in progressively performing speci c tasks we set for ourselves in individual periods,“ says contingent commander Lieutenant-Colonel Procházka. “We have a couple weeks to go before our tour ends, and that is why the time has not yet come for closing assessments. But it is fair to say already today that, despite various challenges we have had to deal with, I am con dent we will manage to perform all tasks one-hundred percent to provide for a seamless handover of the assignment to the next contingent,“ stressed Lieutenant-Colonel Procházka.

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Foreign Deployments: A Well Pre-Negotiated CompromiseInterview with the Vice-Premier and Minister of Defence of the Czech Republic, H.E. Martin Barták ............................................2Locations where the Czech Armed Forces personnel, including military observers, will perform their service, in 2010 ......................6The Czech Presidency of the Council of the European Union: Realism and TransparencyInterview with Lieutenant-General Jaroslav Kolkus, the Czech Republic’s Military Representative in NATO and EU .................................................8Armed Forces of the Czech Republic: Ten Years in Kosovo .........................................12Czech-Slovak Battle Group Mission-Ready ........14Exercise Collective Shield ................................15A Mission to be Accomplished ..........................18Czech Queen reigning Norfolk, U.S. ..................22Flying Alpinists ...............................................25Baltic Air Policing – Czech Gripens over the Baltic region ......................................28Baltic Air Policing mission ALFA taking Gripens off ...........................................30Exercise BALT 2009Six Missiles onto Three Targets .........................32Soldiers with law enforcement training .............36Exercise Flying Rhino 09 ..................................39

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Minister, the most important event since you assumed the office has been the surprisingly fast and smooth endorsement of 2010 foreign deployments by the Parliament of the Czech Republic, as you managed to secure support for the bill across the political spectrum. How did you achieve that?

In this year, a reasonable comprise was successfully achieved in a timely manner so that a part of democratic opposition voted for our proposal. I regard that vital because our servicemembers and Allies gained certainty and the reputation of our country was not affected. I would personally imagine that more could achieved, for instance on the issue of multiyear foreign deployment planning in line with NATO’s strategy, but I am pleased with this compromise attained.

You said there was a compromise. What is your future vision of foreign deployments?

It is no secret that I am an advocate of foreign operations as a key to making sure that Czech citizens

Foreign Deployments: A Well Pre-Negotiated Compromise

Interview with the Vice-Premier and Minister of Defence of the Czech Republic, H.E. Martin Barták

enjoy adequate security. Our soldiers are better employed facing threats in places where instability originates, than if it would somehow transfer over here to our streets. As early as in twenty-four months, the KFOR mission will see a reduction of forces deployed there from 14,000 to 2,500 personnel as situation in Kosovo stabilises. For security of the Western world, Afghanistan will become a priority as the theatre to deny Al Qaeda terrorists a safe haven. For the years ahead, I also do think that long-term endeavours, such as KFOR and ISAF, should see decisions made in the Czech Republic on deployments in similar timeframe, that is in the springtime. I would go even further: these longterm operations should be mandated for a longer period of two to three years. This is by no means any blank cheque for the military. The Parliament may decide to change the mandate anytime during the authorised period.

Why did you strive for such a rapid approval? One could simply say that it was a cardinal decision the Cabinet and Parliament formed after the upcoming elections

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should make, and leave responsibility on the next political leadership.

I am not the type of Minister who would just lay wreaths and leave true decision-making to others. I have devoted myself to defence for a number of years as an expert; it is a vital issue for our country and I feel a strong personal responsibility for the MoD Department. Everybody would conclude that if the draft 2010 foreign deployments plan would be deliberated in the run-up or at the height of election campaign, the process would be affected by the culminating campaign. After the elections, it would not be certain when the Parliament would eventually vote on foreign missions. The same pressure of time could well occur as it was the case at the end of the last year.

It is hard to find another defence official visiting soldiers on foreign operations as frequently as yourself, which also holds true for the time you were in the office of the first deputy minister. In June earlier this year, you travelled to Afghanistan, visited the Czech Special Forces’ forward operation base, saw the Provincial Reconstruction Team and met the President of Afghanistan, Hamid Karzai. What is your assessment of the situation in Afghanistan in the period of presidential elections?

The situation in Afghanistan is not two-dimensional. Apparently, there is a great progress the country has made in the sphere of developing road infrastructure, medical facilities and schools. On the other hand, the

progress in building government structures, especially on local level, is insufficient; counter-narcotics efforts need to be stepped up too. Afghanistan is the world’s prime producer of opium, with the revenues used to finance terrorist movement. But the greatest challenge is that insurgents penetrate the country from Afghani-Pakistani border areas. Situation in Pakistan and Afghanistan are two sides of the same coin. I trust that

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Wpresidential elections will be provided an adequate level of security. I am confident that operation ISAF can succeed in the long run, provided that it receives appropriate manpower and material resources, as well as political support. Let me just say that KFOR aroused similar controversy in 1999 as ISAF does at present. And now, ten years on, KFOR is on its way towards successful completion.

The polls indicate that the public is divided in their opinion on foreign missions, and on the operation in Afghanistan in particular. Do you have any magic formula to persuade people about the need for the Czech Armed Forces to deploy for foreign operations?

If there is an immediate attack to a state’s territory, employment of the military for homeland defence is obvious for everyone at once. It takes a deeper reflection to realise the fact that threats to the Czech Republic’s national security today originate thousands of kilometres beyond our national borders. Contemporary security theory uses so-called paradox of external nature of internal risks. Speaking in comprehensible terms, the threats to internal order in the Czech Republic, such as drug dealing in Czech cities or contingent terrorist

attacks in subway, do not origin in our territory, but for instance in the faraway country of Afghanistan. All heroin in the European market, including the Czech Republic, comes from that country. The revenues are used to finance terrorist activities. If Allied troops would not counter them in places where terrorists are based, they would be free to attack targets in Europe and North America. It is a matter of joint endeavour involving the political representation, the media and the members of the Armed Forces to explain the importance of foreign-deployed operations. The disgraceful process of deliberating foreign deployments by the Parliament at the turn of 2008 and 2009 was a shot in the eye in this respect.

To pass foreign deployments plan as early as springtime, moreover in a political situation that does not really make things any easier, is a great achievement indeed. Did have any celebration?

I do not think it is time to celebrate, but to work. Given the present status of national economy, we are facing difficult times. To pass foreign deployments in June was one the first essential steps the MoD has to get done.

Photos by PIC MoD and Herbert SLAVÍK

Foreign Deployments: A Well Pre-Negotiated Compromise

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An exhibition jointly organised by the Senate of the Parliament of the Czech Republic, Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Military History Institute and National Museum was open in a ceremony mid-August 2009 in the Wallenstein Garden and in historical premises, the Mythological Corridor of the Wallenstein Palace of the Senate. The ribbon cutting ceremony was attended by the President of the Senate of the Parliament, Přemysl Sobotka, Vice-Premier and Minister of Defence, Martin Barták, Vice-Premier and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jan Kohout, and Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in the Czech Republic, Mohammad Kacem Fazelly.The exhibition and individual exhibits primarily cover the activities of the Czech Provincial Reconstruction Team that presently operates in the Province of Logar and show the traditions of Afghanistan as well as day-to-day life of local citizens.

Come take a look at Afghanistan

The establishment of the provincial reconstruction team represents a peak of the existing activities of the Armed Forces of the Czech Republic in foreign-deployed operations, and is the most challenging endeavour at the same time. Nevertheless, the PRT is not the only deployment in Afghanistan, as the Czech Republic also has a Special Operation Forces contingent making excellent effort in the province of Kandahar and facilitating reconstruction of Afghanistan,“ said Minister of Defence Martin Barták and added: ”The exhibition seeks to showcase our efforts in Afghanistan so that people could appreciate the job being done by our service personnel deployed abroad. Because it is them who make a considerable contribution to preventing the danger originating in those areas from spilling closer to our borders.“The exhibition is open to the public in the Wallenstein Garden, Prague, till October 31st, 2009.

by Jan PROCHÁZKAPhotos by Radko JANATA

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Locations where the Czech Armed Forces personnel, including military observers, will perform their service, in 2010

NAVFOR ATALANTA, with operation command in the United Kingdom► A European Union counter-piracy

mission off the coast of Somalia. In case the operation mandate is extended beyond 2009, the Czech MoD is ready to assign three personnel in support of Operation Atalanta Command headquartered in Northwood, UK.

Operation ALTHEA, Bosnia and Herzegovina► In case of transitioning to a non-

executive mission with advisory and training tasks, the Czech MoD will join the effort with two personnel.

MINURCAT, Chad and Republic of Central Africa► UN peacekeeping mission to establish

a safe and secure environment in the region. The Czech MoD will contribute up to five personnel.

MONUC, Democratic Republic of Congo►UN peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which will involve three Czech Armed Forces’ military observers.

Developed by Jaroslav Pajer and Andrea Bělohlávková in cooperation with MoD JOC

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MFO peace mission in Sinai► The MoD Department will assign up

to three personnel for the purposes of this mission in the Middle East.

KFOR, Kosovo► Individuals at HQ KFOR in Camp

Film City, individuals at HQ MNTF-C at Camp Ville, a mechanised company and support company as a part of MNTF-C at Camp Sajkovac in total strength up to 430 personnel.

► A 120-strong reserve company in the territory of the Czech Republic at 5-day notice to move.

► In total, the Czech deployment will comprise the maximum of 550 personnel.

► The Czech Republic is also ready to take over the lead nation role for the MNTF-C.

Operation ISAF, Afghanistan► In the area of responsibility of the Regional

Command–Center, specifically at the Kabul International Airport (KAIA), the Czech Republic deploys an OMLT (training of ground and flight personnel of the Afghani National Army - ANA), personnel in KAIA control center and in ISAF structures, an NSE (supporting all Czech contingent deployed in Afghanistan), a light CBRN defence unit, personnel of various occupational specialties including medical experts and a team supporting the ANA Brigade Command in total strength of up to 100 personnel.

► As a part of the Regional Command – East, a military component (four mobile patrolling teams, EOD team and contingent staff) of the Czech Provincial Reconstruction Team in the province of Logar with total authorised strength of 285 personnel plus a 40-strong OMLT (for ANA training). The total number of Czech troops deployed in the Logar province is planned to reach 325 personnel.

► In addition to that, three Mi-171Sh utility helicopters with a support team comprising up to 110 personnel will be stationed at the Sharana operating base falling into responsibility of Regional Command East.

► The total strength of deployments in Afghanistan is authorised to reach 535 personnel.

UNAMA, Afghanistan► A UN peacekeeping mission,

where the Czech Armed Forces contributes one military observer.

Operations as a part of the United Nations Standby Arrangement System (UNSAS)► The total authorised strength of MoD

forces and assets is 50 personnel. Following a requirement by the UN, it is up to the Government and Parliament of the Czech Republic to decide on their deployment.

NATO Response Force► For NRF-14 from January 1st to July 15th, 2010, the Czech MoD will assign a force protection company of up to

120 personnel, four CBRN defence experts and a national support element with mandated strength of 53 troops. In total, a contingent of maximum 220 personnel will be assigned.

► For NRF-15, (1 July 2010 to 15 January 2011), the MoD Department also plans to assign a 120-strong transportation company; an engineer construction company of up to 170 personnel; three personnel manning a CBRN defence joint analysis team; a battalion staff with national support element of up to 53 troops. The total authorised strength is 360 personnel.

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General, the Czech Republic’s six-month Presidency of the Council of the European Union is over. In spite of that, what did this internationally important stage of the membership of the Czech Republic in the European Union meant for your staff?

By all means, it was a great experience of intensively interacting in an international environment, while the whole team of the military section of the Czech Republic’s permanent representation in the EU was heavily involved, as well as the Permanent Delegation to NATO, in pushing individual priorities of the European

The Czech Presidency of the Council of the European Union: Realism and Transparency

Security and Defence Policy. Our work primarily focused on three key areas: military capability development, military operations of the European Union and last but not least the European Union’s partnerships with other international organisations, that is with NATO, the UN and the African Union. That was the framework we operated throughout the whole presidency. In order for us to perform successfully, and I am confident we attained highly positive results in all areas, it was essential to set the framework for the flow of information not only with the ACR General Staff and the Ministry of Defence, but also with our principal partners on the part of the EU – with the

Interview with Lieutenant-General Jaroslav Kolkus, the Czech Republic’s Military Representative in NATO and the EUIn the first semester of 2009, from January 1st till June 30th, the Czech Republic held the Presidency of the Council of the European Union for the first time in history. The Czech Presidency’s priorities were three-fold: economy, energy security and Europe without barriers. The efforts to perform individual programs involved many governmental departments, including the Ministry of Defence, which focused on three key areas of the Presidency. First, development of military capabilities; second, operations. and; thirdly, cooperation with strategic partners, especially the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation. Lieutenant-General Jaroslav Kolkus, the Military Representative of the Czech Republic in NATO and the EU, elaborates on how successful the MoD Department was in fulfilling its assignments.

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relevant Directorate of the Council’s General Secretariat, EU Military Staff, the Chairman of the Military Committee of the European Union and his office and last but not least with the EU Political and Security Committee (PSC/COPS) section at the Permanent Representation.

As you discuss information flow, or communication, how did you manage to harmonise civilian and military aspects of the Presidency and find a common language?

The fact that together we have managed this process successfully and set the system right is attested by the results of the Czech Presidency. We managed to support all important assignments and organise events, arrange all sessions of a host of boards, committees, subcommittees and promote our joint priorities there. There was an outstanding cooperation with Ambassadress Milena Vicenová, the Head of the Czech Republic’s Permanent Representation in the EU, with Ambassador Šrámek, Head of the PSC/COPS section and his team, who provided the most substantial contribution to the performance of our assignments. There was also an excellent cooperation with the team of the Chief of General Staff and the First Deputy Chief of General Staff as well as with experts from the MoD Defence Policy and Strategy Division. Over the past six months, we did not encounter practically any special emergency moment that we would not be able, in collaboration with other components, to tackle successfully. Speaking about the sphere of communication, I should mention the excellent cooperation we enjoyed from the part of the Military Committee, especially the Chairman EUMC, General Henri

Bentégeat. In aggregate, all of these aspects meant that we were able to arrange, plan, coordinate and organise dozens of appointments and meetings, develop and present hundreds of policy documents for further deliberation. The EU Military Committee Working Group/Headline goal Task Force (EUMCWG/HTF), led by Lieutenant-Colonel Imrich Luky, bore the biggest burden. His team comprising LTC Petr Pargač, LTC Zdeněk Petráš and WO2 Petr Solár, managed to comprehensively prepare and steer seventy-two meetings with highly positive results.

Communication skills are closely associated with the art of achieving consensus, which is vital to break impasses. Is it demanding?

Sometimes it takes an hour before consensus is achieved on a single sentence, sometimes longer …

General, could you discuss achievements in individual areas specifically?

Of course. Based on adjusted contributions by nine Member States, the Force Catalogue 2007 (FC 07) was updated to be consequently promulgated by the EU Military Committee as Force Catalogue 2009. As a part of evaluating these contributions, an analysis was performed of the impact on possible reduction in defined shortfalls in EU military capabilities. In the course of the Czech Presidency, the HTF finalised the Single Progress Report on EU military capabilities development, which was used for the development of the Presidency report on progress in EU military capabilities development.

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The Czech Presidency of the Council of the European Union: Realism and TransparencyIn accordance with approved schedule, the HTF completed two initial stages of the process as a part of developing EU military capabilities interoperability study. The first stage saw the EU Interoperability Requirements List developed, which was transformed into a list of areas with currently identified absence of interoperability. In the second stage, defined degrees of interoperability were applied on the identified areas, which resulted in determination of operational risk associated with the performance of military operations. The Swedish Presidency, which will work the third stage in finalising the study, will follow upon the conclusions of the second stage. As a part of processing lessons identified from the Headline Goal 2010 process, updating was launched of the Toolbox as well as establishing principal conditions for information gathering and analysis. That entailed the development of a new list of reference forces and defining required military capabilities. The team led by Lieutenant-Colonel Luky also developed and submitted to the EU Military Committee a recommendation to further elaborate on factors having impact on initiating a new EU headline goal development process. Pursuant to EUMC decision, staff and expert consultations continued involving expert components and the NATO International Staff via informal discussions with subject-matter NATO experts. These talks aimed at taking forward the development of the IG Tool in the sphere of military capability planning, which would meet requirements of both organisations.

Undoubtedly, defence capabilities are essential for the military, but what about approximating cooperation between the EU and NATO for instance?

Positive results were attained on this issue as well, which goes primarily to the credit of Director of the MoD Defence Policy and Strategy Division, Mr. Ivan Dvořák, who chaired the NATO/EU Capability Group. An effective system was established for sharing lessons learnt between EU and NATO, which will definitely facilitate a better future cooperation and a common attitude on delivering security and defence policy of both organisations. This priority has been continued by the succeeding Swedish Presidency of the Council of the EU, who intend to promote and follow upon our lessons learnt. In addition to that, there has been a significant progress in developing the joint information gathering and analysis tool covering the sphere of military capability planning, which would meet requirements of both organisations (IG Tool). EUMC approved EU requirements for IG Tool development as a basis for further discussions on the level of EU and NATO military staffs.

What we have left is the third priority – military operations …Over the course of the Czech Presidency, three

operations were underway under the colours of the European Union. First, there was the EUFOR Operation Tchad/RCA, which was successfully completed at March 15th, 2009, and the responsibility was transferred to the MINURCAT UN mission. That was the largest operation the the European Union endeavoured on in the past ten years. Lessons learnt are currently being processed. Then

we have Operation ALTHEA in the territory of Bosnia ad Herzegovina. Initially, we thought the operation would transform to a non-executive training mission during our Presidency. The plan did not materialise because of the present political and security environment in Bosnia and Herzegovina and we are awaiting a political decision to be made later at the end of this year. The positive thing is that during discussions between the North Atlantic Council and the EU Political and Security Committee, ambassadors in both organisations supported the continuation of the future operation within the Berlin Plus arrangements, which was one of our priorities. There is an Operation Plan at hand, which will be implemented once political decision is taken. The third very important operation is EU NAVFOR Somalia ATALANTA off the coast of Somalia, a counter-piracy endeavour to enable shipping of goods primarily from the World Food Program to Somalia and naturally also creating a safe environment in the region. Forces involved in the operation achieved their full operational capability in the spring and it is fair to say that the operation managed to diminish piracy activities in part. A decision was made to extend the operation by one year, which will definitely increase security in those waters. Therefore, the conclusion can be made that we met objectives and fulfilled assignments of the Czech Presidency and we assume that our successors, the Swedish Presidency, will carry on the process of implementing operations. It should be understood that military operations are directed by the Military Staff with oversight by the Military Committee. The Presidency creates conditions to smoothly fulfil objectives and missions in individual operations.

Military operations were one of our priorities. How do people perceive that the Czech Republic and its Armed Forces are involved in EU operations to a considerably lower degree compared to NATO operations?

It should be mentioned nevertheless that we have joined EU operations. We were involved both in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and we were also represented on the operation EUFOR Tchad/RCA. For the Armed Forces of the Czech Republic, the Czech Presidency brought a new perspective and a host of new lessons, and our contribution to EU operations will definitely increase in the future. That is the vision.

You alluded to dozens of meetings and hundreds of hours needed to find consensus. Was there any augmentation on your team for the period of Presidency?

Obviously, we would not manage to perform all tasks associated with steering and the agenda associated with the Czech Presidency in the original set-up. Therefore, we had been reinforced already during the preparatory period with three personnel. The past six months were full of day-to-day work, not only in official working hours, but often late into night. A number of away days were organised in a number of countries. Many of these events took place in the territory of the Czech Republic. It was a challenging and dynamic period, while we were scrutinised by twenty-six partners. The basic principles characterising our attitude were realism and transparency.

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The Czech Presidency of the Council of the European Union: Realism and Transparency

Negotiating ”marathons” definitely involved the Helicopter Initiative and cooperation in the framework of the European Defence Agency (EDA). Was the Czech footprint present there as well?

The sphere you have alluded to primarily falls into the responsibility of the MoD Defence Policy and Strategy Division and the MoD Armaments Division. As to the European Defence Agency, a better future cooperation between the EU Military Committee and EDA and better information sharing between the two institutions have been provided for. As to the helicopter initiative, our input involved specific recommendations, analyses and positions we developed. We fostered conditions favourable for the Helicopter Initiative to continue. It is designed to enhance transport helicopter capability to increase sustainability of operationally deployed forces. A dedicated seminar took place in Prague in February earlier this year. The Czech Republic took over the responsibility for Mi family of helicopters that need to be modified and upgraded. The intended first outcome is the deployment of Czech helicopters in Afghanistan. The project’s implementation spans several years and involves multiple countries.

The period of the Czech Presidency also saw the Czech-Slovak European Union Battle Group certified. The force is on standby since July 1st, 2009 for possible deployment. How did that process correspond to other tasks?

It was one of the principal tasks for the Armed Forces of the Czech Republic, which we undertook several years ago. Therefore, we organised a EU Military Committee away day in the Czech Republic concurrently with the BG certification exercise to provide all EUMC members with an opportunity to verify the Battle Group’s achieved

capabilities, organisation, deployable assets, quality of command and control, logistic, medical and other support. Whether CZ/SK EU BG will or will not deploy is contingent on the security situation in specific regions and, of course, on the decision of all twenty-seven Member States. The important thing is that the capabilities the Czech Armed Forces has been building over several years will not disappear, no matter whether the force deploys or not. The military dimension, military aspect was fulfilled and the force underwent all phases of development, all phases of training and achieved required capabilities that may be projected in given area of operations in keeping with activation limits.

General, you are the representative of the Czech Republic in both the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and the European Union. Is it challenging to be the Czech representative in both and not to favour one or the other?

There is no difference to me; and it is not even possible to prefer NATO over the EU or vice versa. Representing the Czech Republic, the Chief of General Staff and the Armed Forces of the Czech Republic in the NATO Military Committee as well as in the EU Military Committee, I promote the interests of the Czech Republic. This is my day-to-day duty performed with the team of people working in both organisations. I am not sure where this agenda will slack as the Czech Presidency of the Council of the EU is over or not. Cooperation with all partners was excellent and I trust that our performance will continue to be in line with the requirements of the Chief of General Staff and with NATO and EU priorities.

by Jan PROCHÁZKA and Pavel LANGPhotos by Marie KŘÍŽOVÁ and Radko JANATA

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Over the decade of the Czech engagement, nineteen military contingents have served their tours in Kosovo. That represents more than seventy-five hundred service personnel from various units, ranging from a 140-strong reconnaissance company that began the Czech engagement in 1999 in the territory of Kosovo, to joint Czech-Slovak battalion, to the present contingent of the Armed Forces of the Czech Republic comprising a mechanised company, support company and other support elements with the possibility of being reinforced by a reserve company.

Nevertheless, the mission based on UN Security Council Resolution 1244 of 10 June 1999, remains the same: to contribute towards the establishing and maintaining a secure and safe environment for all citizens, and continuation of peace process and democratic development without the need of future presence of multinational military forces. Since the declaration of Kosovo’s independence in February 2008, KFOR is to carry on supporting efforts of

Armed Forces of the Czech Republic: Ten Years in Kosovo On July 12th, 2009, ten years have passed since the first deployment of Czech soldiers for NATO’s peacekeeping operation Joint Guardian in the territory of Kosovo, an operation where the Czech Republic continues to assign, albeit under a different name, its largest contingent.

international organisations and assist Kosovo authorities on developing all attributes rule of law.

OPerAtiOn "JOint GuArDiAn" lAunCheD

Until May 2001, the Czech contingent in the territory of Kosovo comprised first 140 and then up to 220 soldiers, whose operational assignment included guarding the Kosovo-Serbian Administrative Border Line, ensuring a safe return of refugees and creating conditions for restoring a peaceful coexistence of Kosovar Serbians and Albanians, chiefly its in own area of responsibility.

With respect to improved security situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, a decision was made in May 2001 regarding Czech Armed Forces’ deployments in West Balkans to assign a higher priority to Kosovo, which enabled the Czech contingent there to be further enlarged up to 400 service personnel.

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From February 2002 till mid-2005, a mechanised battalion-strong joint Czech-Slovak contingent performed their assignment in KFOR as a part of the order of battle of the Multinational Brigade Center, which comprised two British battalions and a Finnish, Norwegian and Swedish battalion. First responsible for a territory of 248 square kilometres, with later addition of 187 sq km, the missions of the Czech-Slovak contingent chiefly included security and search operations, manning checkpoints, countering illegal activity and crime, control of violent demonstrations and other contingencies.

At the turn of 2003 and 2004, during the tour of the 4th Czech-Slovak Battalion, the unit’s area of responsibility was further expanded to 1,150 sq km and the assigned section of Administrative Border Line with Serbia settled on 104 kilometres. In the Spring of 2004, Czech and Slovak soldiers held steady faced with violent attacks of Kosovar Albanians on the Serbian minority and assisted on evacuating hundreds of Kosovar Serbs from epicentres of unrest to safe havens.

renAMeD "JOint enterPrise" After reOrGAnisAtiOn

As a part of overall restructuring of KFOR’s posture, and following an agreement with the Slovak Republic, the

joint Czech-Slovak Battalion terminated its operational assignment in mid-2005. Since then, the Czech contingent has operated as a part of the newly created Multinational Task Force-Center (MNTF-C) in the strength of 550 personnel with main base at the town of Šajkovac in North-West Kosovo. The Czech area of responsibility, which continues to include an 85-kilometre section of administrative border line between Kosovo and Serbia, encompasses an area of nearly 750 sq km in the demanding terrain of the North-East part of Kosovo.

The Multinational Task Force-Center, with the Czech Republic acting as the lead nation in 2006, furthermore comprises of the contingents of Finland, Ireland, Latvia, Slovakia and Sweden. In support of MNTF-C, the Czech military has assigned so-called reserve company since April 2006, able to deploy from the Czech Republic into area of operations at five-day notice.

For KFOR forces as well as all citizens in the region, Czech soldiers have been useful and respected partners,

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lessons from previous deployments, which clearly proves that no foreign operation may be underestimated in any respect. The Armed Forces of the Czech Republic continues to dedicate a very high attention to predeployment preparation and deployments themselves to date.

At present, the deployment in the territory of Kosovo comprises the 15th Czech contingent, with its core formed by the members of the 131st Artillery Battalion from Pardubice, augmented with service personnel from other 54 units and organisations of the Armed Forces of the Czech Republic, mostly from the 14th Logistic Support Brigade Pardubice.

It is likely that the second time will come for the Armed Forces of the Czech Republic to take over the role of the lead nation (in command) of the Multinational Task Force–Center in the course of 2010.

the WAy AheAD fOr KOsOvOAs a result of unceasing efforts by NATO, Kosovo

has seen its security situation stabilised and set out on the path of reconstruction towards overall economic development. Nevertheless, unfavourable social situation, in conjunction with a high degree of widespread crime as well as a large quantity of illegally

held weapons continue to complicate the current status. Therefore, NATO has underscored repeatedly that KFOR peacekeeping force will continue its assignment until next decision is made by UN Security Council and NATO as a whole. In the same sense, the Czech Republic will not take any unilateral steps with regard to KFOR while any possible reduction of the number of troops or their assignment would always be based on decisions taken jointly with Allies.

In conclusion of NATO defence ministerial on June 10th, 2009, the Alliance stated its readiness to prospectively downsize the number of troops in Kosovo contingent on security situation. The process would take place in several steps, based exclusively on current security assessments and pursuant to a joint decision by NATO’s supreme bodies.

by Jan PROCHÁZKA, Miroslav ŠINDELÁŘ and Lieutenant-Colonel Petr SýKORA

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Czech-Slovak Battle Group Mission-Ready

On June 26th, 2009, the Czech-Slovak Battle Group achieved its full operational capability and has been on standby for possible deployment since July 1st, 2009.

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In the framework of the Battle Group, up to 2,600 troops are prepared by the Czech and Slovak Republic to deploy for a combat or a humanitarian aid operation anywhere on the globe within the radius of 6,000 kilometres from Brussels.The core of the Czech force comprises subunits of the 43rd airborne mechanised battalion, and the Slovak Republic has plans to deploy 400 service personnel. “Forces must deploy in designated area within ten days from the relevant political decision. To that effect, we have contracted out for airlift and for sealift as well,“ said the Chief of General Staff Czech Armed Forces, Lieutenant-General Vlastimil Picek in the FOC ceremony and added: “According to operational requirements, the force will be augmented with specialists including pilots, medical doctors and support and logistic personnel.“

The joint combined unit will have its Operation Headquarters in Potsdam, Germany, manned by other officers from EU Members States. EU OHQ Potsdam is one of the five headquarters exercising command and control over the battle groups. So far, Battle Groups under the EU colours have never been called upon to intervene. The Czech-Slovak BG is planned to deploy approximately 1,600 to 1,800 service personnel. A field hospital is also ready in Hradec Králové, able to deploy operation rooms within 12 hours, with two surgical teams available and a stock of 30 days of supply. However, the shape and composition of the Battle Group would be specifically tailored to given operation mandated through consensus of European Union political leaders. The long-lasting preparation of the CZE/SVK EU BG culminated in the Sharp Response 2009 exercise, but also included certification exercise Collective Shield.

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”For the Collective Shield exercise, we selected a standard situation commonly occurring on foreign operations,“ explains Captain Lada Kovářová of the 4th Rapid Deployment Brigade. “The patrol is deliberately following an unpaved road. That is also characteristic of foreign-deployed operations. In these demanding conditions, it often takes a whole day to cover a one-hundred kilometre distance that you would normally make in two hours.“

Meanwhile, a small battle breaks out on the road. Soldiers practise their basic tactical drills, such as ambush response, drills when being shot at and round defence. They engage the enemy assaulting them from cover.

“At this moment, the commander concludes that he is unable to manage the situation using his assets. He requests headquarters to send a quick reaction team and air support. The convoy also carries a Forward Air Controller (FAC), who designates the target for the air and controls them onto

A convoy of six military reconnaissance vehicles of the Czech-Slovak Battle Group on patrol moves along a road in front of us. Their mission is to gather information on the security situation and establish contacts with people from local administration. It just takes a fraction of second and the convoy halts on an IED explosion.

the target,“ shows Captain Kovářová. “Once any of the troops gets wounded, the commander calls in MEDEVAC as well. Apart from that, he has troops in his unit with medical speciality. Those are not necessarily medical doctors, but they can be so-called combat medics, soldiers serving as machine gunners, but fully trained in all first aid procedures, including drip-feeding.“

To repel the enemy, soldiers are using 12.7-milimetre DShK machine guns,

AGS 17 grenade launchers and Swedish-made Carl Gustav RPGs.

All training is done using live ammunition, including the

heaviest calibres. Such action must be completely natural for the troops. They should perform subconsciously, in

order not to be taken aback when assaulted by opposing

forces. The requested air support

appears in the sky. Mi-24 Hind helicopters first perform a reconnaissance overflight

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targets, including with live rockets. The opponent gets hit hard. A medical evacuation helicopter has landed in the meantime. Soldiers load their wounded comrades and the convoy may go on.

fOCus (nOt Only) On AfriCAThe goal of the exercise Collective Shield, which took

place at the turn of March and April 09, was to prove the Armed Forces’ ability to credibly fulfil ambitions declared in the context with the Czech-Slovak Battle Group, and verify planning and performance of a stabilisation expeditionary operation as well as the requisite degree of harmonisation among individual BG components, and command and control systems at all echelons. The Battle Group may be called upon to operate anywhere on the globe within the radius of 6,000 kilometres from Brussels, except for the Arctic zone. Being an apparent next source of threat, Africa is mentioned frequently in this regard. The Battle Group is required to deploy in the troubled territory at ten days’ notice from a decision by the European Union. The deployment is planned to last thirty days, with the possibility of extension up to four months.

A number of components of the Armed Forces of the Czech Republic have been involved in the Czech-Slovak Battle Group. “The Battle Group’s core is built on the basis of the 4th Rapid Deployment Brigade. We have two airborne and two mechanised companies deployed in military training areas, a manoeuvre support company, battalion dressing station, logistic support company and a command company,“ elaborates the force commander Colonel Ladislav Jung. “In addition to that, we are reinforced by a National Support Element (NSE), air assets, electronic warfare company, light reconnaissance company, engineer company, a PSYOPS/CIMIC unit, signals company, a Role 2 field hospital and the military police.“

Majority of troops deployed in the Hradiště training area. A reinforced company of the 4th Rapid Deployment Brigade exercises in the Boletice training area. They have established a forward operating base there. Slovak soldiers of the 22nd mechanised battalion set up another forward base in the Lešť Military Training Area,

Slovakia. A provisional field station with helipad was set up in Bechyně for the helicopter unit. The National Support Element and logistic support units operate from Pardubice and Klatovy. Apart from that, operation headquarters in Olomouc becomes involved in the Collective Shield exercise, headed by Exercise Director, Major-General Hynek Blaško. In total, more than sixteen-hundred personnel are engaged. In addition to that, there are two-hundred and seventy more soldiers involved in the exercise, who operate in the territory of Slovakia.

A Puzzle heliPAD ”The fact that the Battle Group is deployed both in

the territory of the Czech Republic and in Slovakia, is not accidental. We also aim for signal units to practise establishing connectivity over real-world distances,“ emphasises Captain Lada Kovářová.

Fifty Slovak commissioned and non-commissioned officers were assigned for the exercise directly to staffs located in the territory of the Czech Republic. One of the Slovak representatives was also the Commander of Slovak Land Forces, Major-General Milan Maxim, acting as deputy exercise director. “My role here is to inspect on the performance of service duties by our staff officers. There is a Slovak officer in the post of Deputy Brigade Commander. Another Slovak officer serves as a Deputy Battalion Commander. But we also have personnel performing functions such as legal advisor or senior officers in most various specialties. I am relatively satisfied with the job they are doing, but not one-hundred percent. We found out some shortcomings of objective nature. We will be analysing them with our Czech colleagues at the end of the exercise, and determine a joint course of action to redress them,“ underscores General Maxim.

The situation in the Battle Group’s area of responsibility is not really easy. There are protests underway, as well as tribal and territorial disputes coupled with wrangles over religious tolerance and minority rights. There are attacks on governmental and international organisations,

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foodstuff, water and fuel. The Battle Group units must cope with all of that. But the exercise scenario also includes tasks purely technical in their nature.

For instance, engineers from Bechyně practised setting up a mobile helipad and its disassembling. The engineer platoon first needed to adapt the surface thoroughly and reinforce it with gravel. Then they laid plastic elements comprising the helipad, resembling of a puzzle. A complete assembly took approximately twenty minutes. The mobile helipad can be placed anywhere in the terrain, including on softer soils.

that moment, the team already had communication with their superior echelon and requested reinforcement with quick reaction team, and possibly with helicopters and close air support. Now they have to keep the adversary busy, take care to engage them,“ explains Captain Hlubůček. “In fact, the close protection team comprises of two groups. One is responsible for protecting the VIP and getting the VIP into a safe zone. Those are the individuals with white collars. The second one engages the opponent and provides for the retreat of the guys with the VIP. Those are the heavily armed individuals wearing body armour.“

MPs DeAlinG With MAlfunCtiOnsThe Military Police contributed a platoon of thirty-four

personnel to the Battle Group, with its core comprised of a quick reaction team. The unit includes personnel security specialists, a traffic patrol and own ops team. ”We are responsible for perimeter security around the principal command post, which is supported by a specialised unit together with force protection and monitoring group. The advanced equipment they use enables them to control the perimeter both day and night in visible and IR spectrum,“ explains Captain Radim Hlubůček, the officer in charge of this training. “We are also involved in the provision of security to convoys and all persons the contingent is responsible for. We also practised visits of UN commissioners in areas of interest. We perform these missions in conjunction with the companies of the airborne battalion from Chrudim. The Battle Group is a too large formation, plus convoy security is planned over long distances. A high degree of interoperability among units is a must.“

The military police used special live fire exercise No. 10 and No. 6 to drill VIP close protection. They advanced in a diamond formation with the VIP in the center and a stalker heading the group. As soon as they got within shooting distance to the targets, a heavy detonation resounded. Fire broke out immediately. While a part of MPs fought back, the rest sought to move the VIP as far back as possible and protect the VIP with their bodies. “In

All training started with individuals practising weapon deployment and shooting. Apart from CZ 75 Luger and Glock 17 pistols, the drills focused on using Sa-58 assault rifle and shotgun, because shotguns are very effective in operations in built-up areas. Stepwise, we transitioned to groups of two, which we further assembled into larger formations.

”This partial exercise is highly demanding for mutual interaction, because live fire does not take place in a single line; people get intermingled. Everyone must know exactly at any given moment where his buddy is and look after him. People respond to unexpected situations. For instance, we deal with loading live munitions. Soldiers are deliberately not issued a full quantity to be able to cope with weapon malfunctions,“ stresses Captain Hlubůček. ”The shouting down here does not mean there is chaos. The thing is that the troops be able to listen to their comrades and practise interoperation.“

The process of developing the Czech-Slovak Battle Group culminated in June earlier this year in the Exercise Sharp Response. In opinion of Colonel Ladislav Jung, the important aspect in the whole process of preparation is that it was declared that in case of activation, European Union operations will be conducted according to NATO standards.

by Vladimír MAREKPhotos by Vladimír MAREK and Jan KOUBA

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A Mission to be Accomplished

Team includes supporting the Afghani central government in provinces, assistance on reconstruction of the country on provincial level and the provision of a safe and secure environment for these activities.

At present, the province of Logar is the area of operations for the third contingent of the Armed Forces of the Czech Republic (ACR). The core of the 3rd contingent’s military component comprises service personnel of the 41st Airborne Mechanised Battalion Žatec. The contingent is augmented with soldiers from HQ 4th Rapid Deployment Brigade and the 43rd Airborne Mechanised Battalion Chrudim as well as personnel from additional twenty-six ACR units and organisations. Members of the 4th Rapid Deployment Brigade form 76 percent of the 3rd contingent. The contingent’s commander is Lieutenant-Colonel Petr Procházka, an officer with experience from foreign operations in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo and Afghanistan, where he served in 2007 as contingent commander and chief of staff of the Provincial Reconstruction Team Feyzabad.

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The 3rd contingent PRT Logar differs from the previous two in many respects. First, the number of Czech troops operating in Logar increased from the original 190 to 275 at present. Reinforcements did not pertain to the Czech contingent only. The increased number of U.S. forces had a major impact on the situation in the province, and consequently on operations of the Czech contingent. The Czech contingent operates in the order of battle and under operational command of the U.S. Task Force Spartan. For that reason, command and control system needed to be harmonised with the system U.S. forces use. On the other hand, augmentation of U.S. forces in the Logar Province enabled our soldiers to make a greater use of U.S. assets and expand their operations into six districts out of the total of seven districts comprising the Logar

The PRT also comprises a civilian component, currently formed by 10 experts sent to Afghanistan by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic. They are primarily civil engineers, and agriculture, media and project management experts.

The overall mission of the Provincial Reconstruction Team is identical for all contingents. What does change, however, in the context of current situation in Afghanistan, is the operational assignment. The 3rd contingent PRT Logar assumed its operational assignment on February 23rd, 2009. In the 3rd contingent’s operations plan, the assignment divides into four lines: security, development of the Afghani National Security Forces, supporting the Afghan Government, and assistance on development and reconstruction of the country. The first line of operations is primarily the mission of the PRT military component. The military and civilian components work together to the effect of developing the Afghani National Security Forces. Cooperation with Afghani Government on assistance projects and participation in aid projects are the principal mission of civilian experts, but that does not mean this line of operations would have no involvement of the military component. “We are succeeding in progressively performing specific tasks we set for ourselves in individual periods,“ says contingent commander Lieutenant-Colonel Procházka. “We have a couple weeks to go before our tour ends, and that is why the time has not yet come for closing assessments. But it is fair to say already today that, despite various challenges we have had to deal with, I am confident we will manage to perform all tasks one-hundred percent to provide for a seamless handover of the assignment to the next contingent,“ stressed Lieutenant-Colonel Procházka.

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province. That is naturally also of a considerable benefit to the contingent’s civilian component. Aid projects are currently underway in all of the six districts. The fact that reconstruction process may not be facilitated in full in the last district, the district of Kharwar, is determined by the local security situation.

Another major difference to the previous contingents is the enlarged vehicle inventory of the Czech force. Apart from vehicles fielded with the Czech Armed Forces, the Czech contingent also uses Humvees. The force was also newly equipped with Dingo and Iveco vehicles. The vehicles provide a substantially higher ballistic protection, which is truly critical owing to the aggravating security situation in Afghanistan.

”As our operational capabilities expanded, we are now better able to monitor our operational environment and perform reconnaissance in regions, where additional reconstruction projects are intended. So, we may work substantially more effectively and faster, which increased the number of patrols we perform,“ describes Lieutenant-Colonel Procházka the current status. “Compared to the previous year, patrolling intensity grew by 70 percent. Naturally, we are involved in the provision of security, not only on the base, but also in areas critical for us in terms of future and current projects,“ elaborates LTC Procházka on the PRT missions. This progress in the performance of operational assignment can be easily documented with numbers. As at July 31st, 2009, the 3rd contingent PRT Logar service personnel participated

in 206 successful patrols, while a large majority of those were performed in conjunction with the U.S. TF SPARTAN units, the French OMLT, or units of the Afghani National Police (ANP) and Afghani National Army (ANA). In addition to standard mobile and foot patrolling, five so-called aeromobile patrol were performed in the Azra and Khoshi districts. Those were all multi-day patrols into areas where the Czech forces have not operated before.

With an exponential growth of patrols performed, other Czech PRT operations shifted their focus as well. Thanks to an expanding local knowledge of the area of operations, a whole set of databases was created that are absolutely vital for military as well as civil experts’ operations. An in-depth knowledge of road infrastructure and terrain in area of responsibility, coupled with a good knowledge of local environment, population, social and economic situation, as well as tribal structure, were thoroughly assessed and filed into specific databases and maps used not only by Czech soldiers and civilian experts, but also by American and French Allies.

The principal goal of the Provincial Reconstruction Team is to provide assistance to the Afghani Government in reconstructing the country, and the growth of operational capabilities allows for completing aid projects and identifying new needs of the province. At the end of July 2009, Czech PRT civilian experts led by Ms. Bohumila Ranglová accomplished 16 projects, 37 projects are in the process of realisation, with many of them nearing completion, and additional 31 are at various stages of preparation. Those are also long-term projects whose realisation started already in 2008. The projects are realised in the following fields: support to the Afghani National Army and ANP, reconstruction of roads, water management facilities, agriculture, healthcare, schools, support to women’s rights and independent media. Key projects pursued by Czech PRT include: construction of ANP training and education

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two new bridges; revitalisation of the only functional dam in the province and renewal of the traditional irrigation system, so-called Karez. The PRT renewed and completed construction of ten schools for both boys and girls. Since majority of Logar province population live on agriculture, the Czech PRT’s priorities include agricultural support, with projects such as development of technical library in the Institute of Agriculture, or holding an apiarist course. Last but not least, the projects should be mentioned that support the position of women in Afghanistan, such as support to education of girls, which relates to the construction of schools, or support to celebrations of the international women’s day.

The fact that locals take a high interest in cooperating with the Czech PRT is attested by their attendance in so-called called bidders conferences. In these gatherings, PRT experts present planned projects and local firms are able to develop their specific bids accordingly. The last conference held at the end of June 2009 saw the attendance of 129 bidders. The decision on awarding projects for realisation will be made in a couple of weeks by the means of a standard tender. The key factors for selection of winning bid include not only price and quality, but also the involvement of local people in realisation of specific projects. It is cooperation with the Afghani Government, as well as with informal authorities supporting democratically elected government, which form the key principles of the Czech PRT’s effort.

The military component has also actively joined the process of reconstruction in the form of so-called quick impact projects. Compared to reconstruction projects, these may appear as having a minor importance, but the contrary is true. Even small-scale projects, such as supplies of learning and teaching aids for local schools, equipment of the Afghani National Police, construction of school playgrounds, or reconstruction of security wall, do have a major impact on how civilian population perceive our forces and consequently on the security of our service personnel. More than twenty quick impact projects are realised using the funds of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, as well as private donations. Traditionally, the endeavour of our soldiers received the support of Christian societies in the Czech Republic, as well as Oliva Foundation and Hartmann–Rico company.

Presidential elections in Afghanistan, which took place on August 20th, 2009, represented a very important factor that affected the 3rd contingent’s operational assignment. ”First of all, elections in Afghanistan extended our tour to an irregular period of eight to nine months. Secondly, it also effected an early rotation of 52 members of the 4th contingent in order to provide for continuity in PRT operations, who had already joined efforts in the run-up to the elections,” Lieutenant-Colonel Procházka explains. However, the elections also brought about a whole set of specific tasks for the contingent, whose performance began virtually immediately upon the takeover of the operational assignment.

”We managed to establish an excellent cooperation with the Afghani National Police and the Afghani

National Army and performed two basic training courses for Afghani Police officers. Likewise, a special course was realised for commanders of 82 polling stations throughout the Logar province,“ LTC Procházka adds. That special course focused on security procedures performed by Afghani Police officers in the course of the election. Czech soldiers also led police officer training directly at police checkpoints, where the Czech mobile training team attended them. Checkpoints are situated at all main roads in the province and play an important role in provincial control and minimising insurgent movements, which was critical in the election period.

A similar cooperation has been established with the Afghani National Army. Training of Afghani troops is held regularly once a week, focusing on medical training, vehicle driving and maintenance training, and handgun drills. An intensive driver course was also realised using Humvee vehicles that ANA has been equipped with.

The coalition forces were not to play an active role in the course of the elections; units stayed back and activity was left upon the Afghani National Security Forces. In the course of elections, members of the PRT’s military component continued discussions with the representatives of local governments, monitored security developments and were ready to help the local government in the framework of the quick reaction force system in case needed.

Unfortunately, Afghanistan claimed its toll in the ranks of the 3rd contingent members. One of the soldiers was severely wounded when a vehicle hit an IED on April 17th, 2009. Today, the individual undergoes a demanding treatment. But that is something every soldier serving in Afghanistan must take into account.

Before the operational assignment is handed over, the 3rd contingent still has challenging tasks that need be performed one-hundred percent. Only when the last member of the contingent is back in the Czech Republic, the time will come for evaluating and reviewing. But it is fair to say already now that maximum efforts are being done for this mission to succeed and for a good renown of the Czech Provincial Reconstruction Team.

by Captain Lada KOVÁŘOVÁ, Press and Information Officer,

3rd Czech Contingent PRT Logar, Operation ISAFPhotos by 3rd Czech Contingent PRT Logar

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COrOnAtiOn Of the CzeCh Queen AzAleACommencing with NATO nations flag raising, the

opening ceremony took place in the presence of Czech defence delegation led by Deputy Minister František Padělek and Chief of General Staff Lieutenant-General Vlastimil Picek.

Traditionally, one of the NATO nations becomes the focus of attention during the seven days’ festivities, recognised as the Most Honored Nation. For the first time, the Czech Republic was to take up this role. In addition to that, a member of the Czech Castle Guard, Captain Magdaléna Dvořáková, became Queen Azalea.

First, the Queen received the Norfolk mace in person from the Mayor of Norfolk city, Paul D. Traum, and the Czech Deputy Minister František Padělek then completed the coronation ceremony. His role was more than symbolic – he decorated the queen with crown.

For the whole week afterwards, Captain Magdaléna Dvořáková represented both the Czech Republic and its Armed Forces. Her schedule was truly busy with various tours of schools, clubs, as well as participation in conferences and discussions.

MeetinG At ACtOn the same day, Deputy Minister František Padělek

and Chief of General Staff Vlastimil Picek visited the Headquarters ACT and were welcomed by Deputy SACT Admiral Luciano Zappata, an Italian. They discussed topical

Czech Queen reigning Norfolk, U.S.

issues, touching on counterpiracy operations off the coast of Somalia for instance. They also debated the Project Multiple Futures, which encompasses contingency scenarios and development of threats in future security environment and their possible solutions. They discussed how future battlefield could look like and how it will impact the shape of NATO. They also reviewed the ways ACT can use to provide assistance to individual NATO nations.

In the following meeting with Deputy Chief of Staff ACT, Lieutenant-General James Soligan, they touched on centers of excellence (COE), which is a form for elected NATO nations to specialise in various practical military fields of expertise, and how could other Allies expand their utilisation. A mention was made about the activities of the Czech-based COE in Vyškov, which focuses on defence against weapons of mass of destruction. They also discussed NATO’s new strategic concept and the imperative to enhance defence capabilities to be able to handle contingencies arising from new threats such as cyber attacks.

On Wednesday, 29 April 09, the Czech delegation had a call with the Supreme Allied Commander, General James N. Mattis, who was keenly interested in current

Norfolk, FL, saw the 56th Azalea Festival launched shortly before 4 p.m. April 27th, 2009, celebrating the basing of the Allied Command Transformation (ACT) in the city, and held as a symbol of understanding between Americans and their Allies. What was originally a regional fest grew over time into one of the largest international festivities in the U.S.

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situation in the Czech Republic and whether the latest developments on the political scene could not have any impact on operations of the Czech Armed Forces and the performance of Czech commitments to NATO. The Czech officials reassured General Mattis that changes in the country’s leadership would not affect our relation to the Alliance and our commitments. General Mattis said he highly valued the Czech Republic’s contribution to joint operational efforts in Afghanistan and recognised the

individual is a liaison officer at the US Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC). The Czech senior delegation met all of them. On that occasion, Deputy Minister Padělek decorated CSM Luděk Kolesa, ACT Senior Enlisted Leader, with commemorative medal on the 10th anniversary of the Czech Republic’s accession to NATO. The Czech guests then went on to visit U.S. Navy Base Little Creek and gained familiarity with the mission, workings and equipment of this U.S. Navy special component, including LCAC craft.

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performance of our service personnel. The guests then introduced the General to the 2009 Czech Armed Forces Deployments Plan and an outlook for the next year.

There are nine Czech servicemembers on staff tours at the HQ ACT structures. Three soldiers are members of Czech national representation at HQ ACT, four personnel serve on the ACT International Staff, one serves as a liaison officer at the US Joint Force Command (JFCOM) and the last

syMPOsiuM At sixtieth BirthDAy“NATO at Sixty – Emerging Strategic Imperatives“ was

the title of symposium that took place on the fourth day of the festival, organised by Allied Command Transformation together with the Old Dominium University.

Policy practitioners and security experts, scholars and military specialists from both sides of the Atlantic debated political and military transformation of the

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Alliance and possible future development ramifications in relation to missions and tasks NATO is facing in the present security environment. The symposium also heard addresses by three Czech speakers. Ambassador with special mission for Energy Security, Mr. Václav Bartuška, set out specific examples to demonstrate possible risks arising from dependence on various sources of energy. NATO Assistant Secretary General for Defence Policy and Planning, Mr. Jiří Šedivý, underscored the imperative for NATO to develop its cooperation with the UN, EU and other international organisations. Professor Michael Kraus, director of the Program of Russian and East European studies at the Middlebury University in USA, covered the development of Russia and its internal and foreign policy from the fall of the Soviet Union to date as well as Russian relations with NATO.

MilitAry BAnD shOWA venue to “Virginia International Tattoo“, the Scope

Arena in the city of Norfolk saw concerts by military bands on the following day. Apart from orchestras from the host country, uniformed military bands from Canada, Germany, New Zealand and Norway came to show their artistry. The Czech Republic was represented by the Armed Forces Central Band.

Nearly ten thousand visitors applauded a two-hour musical show full of visual and sound effects. Likewise, Vejvoda’s “Škoda lásky“ (“Roll out the barrels“) arranged by the Czech Central Band also received massive ovation, as well as a setting classical compositions by Bedřich Smetana and Antonín Dvořák. A huge applause also followed after solo by Rudolf Musil, who sang a part of the song titled ”Už z hor zní zvon“ (Amazing grace).

nAtOfest WAs the BestOn Saturday May 2nd, the city of Norfolk belonged to

the Parade of Nations. A parade march involving dozens of floats that passed the city’s main boulevard was watched by a crowd of many thousand people. The parade was concluded by three floats presenting the Czech Republic. The first one designed to show folk traditions carried the Ondras military group. The second float was fitted with a model of one of

the Czech national symbols, the Karlštejn castle, and the third float carrying Queen Azalea LVI, CAPT Magda Dvořáková, rode closing the parade.

On Sunday, it was time for citizens of Norfolk and for visitors to say good bye to the 56th Azalea festival. And what a successful farewell it was. A large area surrounding the immense Scope arena turned into a standing review of twenty-eight NATO nations under the title of ”NATOFest“. At high noon, the Czech Armed Forces Central Band marched into the center of area to play a mix of favourite

tunes. Listening to them, thousands of visitors tasted gastronomic specialities at individual national stands: from Czech kolache, to French cheese to American fantastically colourful ice-cream. Those rather inclined to intellectual enjoyments had a possibility to browse various prints, from pamphlets to high-profile books and get to know cultural and other gems of given countries. Several times in the afternoon, musicians and dancers of the Ondráš ensemble also gripped the attention of visitors. The sound of cimbalom, violins, the bass and signing always aroused a special attention of passers-by. Indeed, NATOFest was the best – fabulous and original.

“I travel to Norfolk on business pretty often, but to witness the city full of Czech music, dance, to see Czech flags everywhere in the year of the tenth anniversary of our accession to NATO and twenty years from the fall of communism, that was an absolutely amazing experience,“ said NATO Assistant Secretary General, Mr. Jiří Šedivý, in the closing of the festival. “The fact that the Czech Republic was elected the most honoured nation is a sign of high prestige we enjoy within the Alliance. Our Armed Forces have much to be proud of and credit deserve all those involved in making this event a success.“

by LTC Jana RůŽIčKOVÁ, Jan PROCHÁZKA & Jaroslav PAJER

Photos by LTC Jana RůŽIčKOVÁ and Jan PROCHÁZKA

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In the first half of May 09, members of the 23rd AFB (Helo) Přerov took part in a multinational mountain flying exercise in French Alps. From the Czech Republic, the exercise involved fifty personnel and three Mi-171Sh helicopters. Besides pilots, flight engineers and two full technical support teams, gunners were involved as well. AFB Přerov introduced this military occupational specialty several months ago in response to lessons learnt on using helicopters on foreign-deployed operations. Until now, helicopter protection was the responsibility of troops carried onboard. Some of the newly assigned gunners had an opportunity to undergo gunner instructor training on Lynx helicopter in the United Kingdom.“We take them to all exercises, including where, as is the case here, weapons are not authorised,“ explains commander of the group, Major Milan Koutný. “Because they look after troops we carry. They tell them what to do and what to refrain from. They play their part on landing too. The flight engineer remains in the cockpit and assists in terms of following flight data. Gunners lean out and watch the ground, whether we have room for landing. Below three meters, controlling the helicopter on landing is fully their responsibility.“

An OnerOus JOurneyTo the Gap Tallard airfield located south off Grenoble, France, the three Czech Mi-171Sh helicopters were

Service personnel of the 23rd Air Force Base (Helo) Přerov practised flying and landings in mountains.Mi-171Sh engines are running at full throttle. On the port, Ecrins national park slowly fades into distance. Right before the cockpit, as if one could touch them, Alpine three-thousand-metre giants dominate the view. Soldiers onboard are slowly readying to be dropped.

to transfer on their own. The plan looked quite easy, but the weather decided to put our helicopter aircrews to a test before they could take on mountains. The originally prepared flight from Prague to Germany on March 6th was cancelled due to adverse weather and rescheduled for Monday, March 9th, 2009. However, neither at the beginning of the next week everything went all right. The flight route from Prague via Regensburg, Colmar Besancon, Lion, Valence to Gap Tallard airfield needed to be abandoned due to a bad weather already in the German territory. Low cloud base and limited visibility forced the group commander to divert and land at Laupthaim airfield, Germany. The Czech personnel were received there wholeheartedly. The German party immediately responded to an unexpected situation, provided accommodation, supplied requested fuel and operatively prepared a demonstration of their helicopter assets.On the next day, front activity was imminent too; aircrews chose to leave out landing in Colmar for refuelling and continued nonstop. They were able to do so because of four drop tanks with opacity of nearly five hundred litres of fuel, which each of the aircraft carried on external pylons. Despite a minor complication as of the machines hit a bird, all Mi-171Sh eventually arrived Gap Tallard airfield.

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triCKy turBulenCeIn the mountains, helicopters seek at least a relatively flat bed for landing and land. The door literally pours French troops with rifles and antitank weapons. While warfighters are slogging in snow, the aircrew does not wait a second and lifts off. Mountains can be tricky. Already at the initial stage of the exercise, one of the helicopters dropped several tens of metres owing to turbulence. Above what often seemed to be a flat place suitable for landing, most diverse air streams flew and it was simply impossible to land there. There was the so-called orographic turbulence. In other instances, Czech helicopters landed on quite steep terrain while leaning their nose wheel on the ground and keeping the back of the helicopter in the air. The exercise was organised by the European Defence Agency (EDA). Apart from the Czech aircrews, it involved helicopter crews from France, Hungary and Spain. British and Belgian personnel participated as non-flight personnel. Taking off Gap Tallard at six hundred metres above sea level, the machines were able to claim above mountain ranges three thousand metres high quite fast. While the first week was dominated by mountain flight and landings practice, the second week saw two exercises held. One of them was conceived as a demonstration for VIPs. The organisers are committed to holding this event on annual basis. ”It’s their first activity; upon evaluation, they would like to continue in the years ahead. The EDA intends to offer the exercise as a standard predeployment training. The training focuses on flying in mountainous environment. In our case, we are preparing for Afghanistan,“ says Major Koutný.

sCOttish enGlish Staying in France also helped practise communication in English, because helicopters flew in formations. For example, our helicopter aircrews flew together through glens together with Spanish Chinook and Cougar machines. Puma, Gazelle, Tiger and Agusta A-109 helicopters were also present. The involvement of British forward air

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controllers (FAC) from the elite SAS units was truly an enriching experience. ”By coincidence, they were Scottish, and they spoke a very peculiar English. In the beginning, communication was pretty challenging, but that is apart of what we do,“ emphasises Lieutenant Vladimír Marek.As a cultural event, international dinner was held with each of the involved parties bringing something typical of their country.

by Vladimír MAREKPhotos by Jan KOUBA and Vladimír MAREK jr.

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Armed Forces of the Czech Republic led by Deputy Joint Force Commander-Commander Air Force, Colonel Jiří Verner. After opening remarks, Danish flag is retrieved and Czech flag raised on the mast. Commander of the Royal Danish Air Force contingent, Major Jorgen Jorgensen, takes a wooden key and hands it over to the hands of the commander of the Czech unit, Major Jaroslav Míka, symbolically passing the airspace over the territory and territorial waters of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania to the members of the Armed Forces of the Czech Republic. “My feelings are mixed. On one hand, this is an end to a demanding several months’ predeployment training, while operational assignment commences on the other hand, and hence I fell a great responsibility for its performance,“ says MAJ Míka.A seventy-five member Czech Armed Forces contingent comprising personnel from five units is primarily fomred by personnel of the 21st Air Force Base čáslav. Over the

period of four months, they will operate both at the Shiauliai Air Force Base, and the Karmelava control and reporting center. Particularly seven QRA pilots will be closely followed by experts and the public. “There is no specificity in policing the airspace over the Baltic region. We do the same job as we do from our home base. NATO procedures and time limits apply both at čáslav as well as at Shiauliai,“ states Major Radoslav Matula, and his colleagues First Lieutenant Petr Dřevecký and Major Roman Svoboda add that their command

Defending the airspace over the three Baltic states, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania in the framework of the NATO Integrated Air Defence System (NATINADS) – that is the operational assignment of the Czech Armed Forces contingent until September 1st, 2009, mandated by both Chambers of the Parliament of the Czech Republic. “Based on the principle of collective defence, nineteen contingents from thirteen countries served their operational tours here. The Baltic states, having no own supersonic capability, requested the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation to extend the mandate till 2018,“ specifies the Czech Republic’s defence attaché in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, Colonel Libor Straka.Friday, May 1st, 2009. Two military units, Danish and Czech one, are standing lined up before the low QRA (Quick Reaction Alert) building. Facing them, VIP guests assumed their positions, including members of the Czech diplomatic corps in Baltic States and a delegation of the

Baltic Air Policing: Czech Gripens over the Baltic region QRA aircraft take turns taking off from the runway at Shiauliai air force base. First, two Danish F-16s get airborne, then two Czech JAS-39C Gripen fighters. A couple of minutes later, already united in a spectacular formation, they flew over heads of approximately thirty VIP guests as the ceremony on May 1st, 2009, came to a head on the occasion of takeover of operational assignment, the responsibility for protecting the airspace of the three Baltic states by the contingent of the Armed Forces of the Czech Republic.

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echelon also remains the same: CAOC 2 (Combined Air Operations Centre) in South of Germany. ”The location we operate from is not a factor. Provided that we have relevant technical and logistic support, it does not really matter, which location on the globe we operate from. I have not the slightest doubt that military professionals from the ranks of flight and ground personnel, including force protection, would not manage their tasks,“ says Colonel Petr Mikulenka, Commander 21st AFB čáslav.But one cannot fully agree with the statement that everything will be the same in Lithuania as in the CZech Republic. There is a “slight“ difference. “The area of responsibility is approximately three times larger than the one protected from čáslav AFB. Neighbouring countries, Byelorussia and the Russian Federation, have a different international affiliation. We always have to be aware of the proximity of their air border. We must not get where it is none of our business. In reality, not closer than eight nautical miles (approx. 15 km) from their national border,“ explains Major Míka and confirms that their alternate aiports in case of emergency are civilian airports at Vilnius, Kaunas, Riga and Tallinn.

Another difference is associated with the Czech contingent’s operational assignment. “QRA pilots may only intercept military targets. They are not authorised to use weapon systems against commercial aircraft. But if such aircrew requests assistance in an emergency, they will provide it. The Czech Republic will not and is not mandated to intervene in the performance of operational assignment in any manner,“ declares Colonel Jiří Matura, Director of Foreign Operations Department–Deputy Director of MoD Joint Operations Center.Obviously, logistic support of four multirole JAS-39C supersonic aircraft is also partially different. Contrary to their homebase, where Gripens have requisite home environment and servicing, they are in field conditions in Lithuania. “We expect the total flight hours here in the Baltic region to reach three-hundred flight hours. One of the machines is at fifty flight hours before C-level maintenance. We will perform higher levels of maintenance at the čáslav AFB. It is not a problem. In case needed, we fly over to our base,“ explains contingent commander. The requisite ground support equipment and aircraft spare parts, weapons and munitions were transported to Shiauliai in advance both on the ground and by air. “Our mission does not change: to keep QRA aircraft mission-ready all the time,“ adds WO-3 Roman Brázda.Deputy Joint Force Commander-Commander Air Force, Colonel Jiří Verner, is confident that the contingent members will perform the operational assignment one-hundred percent. “I trust that we will prove a high professionalism of the ACR contingent members as well as high quality technology of the operated four-generation aircraft. For the Czech Air Force, the deployment for Baltic Air Policing will represent a very valuable lesson for the future.“

by Pavel LANG and Jan PROCHÁZKAPhotos by Jan KOUBA and Radko JANATA

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The twenty-first day of May 2009 will enter the memory of the 1st Czech Armed Forces contingent responsible for protection of the airspace of the three Baltic countries in an indelible manner. ”The Combined Air Operations Center (CAOC) in Germany declared Alfa Scramble at 17:30 hours,“ says Lieutenant-Colonel David Schreier from the contingent staff and specifies: ”Two QRA JAS-39C Gripen machines, piloted by Major Roman Svoboda and First Lieutenant Jiří čermák, were airborne eleven minutes after the take-off order. Their target was a commercial airplane that violated no-fly zone eight

Baltic Air Policing missionALFA taking Gripens off

nautical miles wide at the south border of Lithuania with the Russian Federation.“Nine minutes on, the twosome of Gripens arrive the designated area. Visual contact determines that the aircraft in question is a small commercial turboprop with German registration. QRA pilots attempt to establish radio communication on the 121.50 MHz international emergency frequency. No success. Therefore, the Controlling and Reporting Centre (CRC) in Karmelava orders them to take a closer look at the followed target to possibly find out an emergency happening onboard. Once they rule that out, the turboprop’s flight is monitored until landing at an airport nearby Klaipeda. Consequent communication shows that there are two

Training flights (Tango Scramble) are registered in dozens. That is a day-to-day duty for Czech QRA pilots safeguarding the airspace over Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, whereas Alfa scramble flights are exceptional. Indeed, you would just need one hand to count Alfa scramble sorties performed by the previous nineteen contingents in the Baltic Air Policing operation.

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German tourists in the cockpit, a married couple, heading to the seaside city of Klaipeda. “Investigation into violating the no-fly zone by this civilian airplane will be handed over to the Lithuanian Civil Aviation Authority. For us, it is critical that meeting time limits and the flight itself proved requisite readiness and professionalism of the flight as well as ground personnel comprising the contingent of the Armed Forces of the Czech Republic,“ says Lieutenant-Colonel Schreier.

A fOur-MOnth effOrtOn the second day, two Gripens take off again the runway at Shiauliai airport, Lithuania. Once they get airborne, they climb to the designated flight level at heading one-twenty. Pilots establish communication with the CRC that gives them initial target data. “It is tactical not to expose yourself for him at once,“ explains an experienced Air Force pilot, Major Roman Svoboda, who has spent 2,400 flight hours in cockpits of military aircraft, of which four-hundred were in the JAS-39 Gripen multirole supersonic fighter. ”From the rear hemisphere, I am able to get the necessary information, such as the type of machine, heading, speed and flight level. Registration marks represent an important data item for identification. I approach the target to a distance enabling me to read and, at the same time, flight safety must not be affected. At night, moreover with a machine with grey camouflage, this is not an easy thing to do. I fly in his shadow and my

wingman is always in a position to intervene and help me out,“ says MAJ Svoboda.Asked whether he is prepared to use force against a military target as well (QRA pilots in the Baltic region are not authorised to use weapon systems against commercial aircraft), he replies: “It is different to speak about it on the ground, and in the air. Emotions must go aside. I am a professional on a mission. In the cockpit, I respond to orders by superior authorities in a very fast sequence. There is no time to think; it is an automated action. A live attack on target is conceivable for me,“ points out and recalls his first combat fire exercise. ”It was over the Baltic Sea with a MiG-21. Although it was shooting at a drone target, I realised that it is about one’s mind. You have a special feeling, when the missile you carry all the time suddenly leaves the machine and heads towards the target.“Optimal flying shape for pilots requires an intensive flight training, which runs in parallel with the performance of the operational assignment. “We plan Tango Scramble flights ourselves. We are allocated working areas we practice in. Of course, flying over the sea is attractive. In case of Alfa scramble, we have absolute priority, except for emergency situations involving civil airplanes. Air traffic management authorities clear the area for us to intervene,“ said the QRA pilot from čáslav AFB.

by Pavel LANGPhotos by Radko JANATA

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“Centralny Poligon Sil Powietrznych Ustka” was the venue to live fire exercise of Czech ground-based air defence units for the eighth consecutive time. “The Polish training area at the Baltic Sea is the best accessible and most suitable location for the Armed Forces of the Czech Republic, where this system may perform live firing,“ says Colonel Marek Kalanin, Chief of GBAD service and points out that tactical live fire exercises like this in Bulgaria for instance or in Crete would claim substantially higher costs.At the turn of June and July, one-hundred and twenty military professional transferred to the north of Poland,

Exercise BALT 2009Six Missiles onto Three Targets

both from the 25th Surface-to-Air Missile Brigade (SAM Bde) and from other units and components of Czech Armed Forces, accompanied by specialists from the RETIA Pardubice joint stock company. “We performed a combined long-distance movement. A convoy carrying eight 3M9M3 missiles arrived on road, equipment and materiel was transported on railway and air assets, specifically two An-26 aircraft, were used to bring in the service personnel for the exercise,“ states the Chief of Staff 25th SAM Brigade Strakonice, Lieutenant-Colonel Jaroslav Ackermann. The train comprised eighteen carriages and the journey from Strakonice station to the siding in the Ustka military training area took nearly three days. ”We got a little bit behind the schedule due to technical malfunction on one of the railway company’s carriages and because of flood in the south of Poland,“ specifies Warrant Officer Václav Štěpánek.

A PreMiere fOr MODerniseD surn rADArs This year’s BALT again featured some innovations. The most remarkable novelty were the SURN CZ modernised control radar systems manufactured by RETIA Pardubice. Following successful military acceptance tests (BALT 2007),

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Six-month preparation of air defence personnel from Strakonice culminated in the supreme test of their competence, a tactical live-fire exercise using the 2K12 KUB (SA-6 Gainful) system at aerial targets. They passed their vocational exam under the name of “BALT 2009“ in the Ustka Military Training Area in Poland.

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Exercise BALT 2009Six Missiles onto Three Targets

the SURNs were employed for live fire exercise for the first time ever. It is no secret that their obsolete and difficult-to-maintain subsystems were replaced with new high-performance ones and the modernisation enabled the system to be integrated into advanced command and control networks. Two years ago, the then Joint Force Commander, General Jiří Halaška, put it precisely in Ustka, Poland: “The imaginary clock of the 25th brigade’s history moved thirty years forward and they transferred from the analogue to digital age.“Apart from the modernised SURN radar systems, sandy beaches at the Baltic Sea offered a view of additional special equipment, such as communication systems (PuPoSy and MRRP) and command and control systems (RACCOS and SFDC).However, the most important end players were the members of the 251st Surface-to-Air Missile Battalion, especially the operator crews of the fire batteries. “At individual stages of preparation, we exerted our best efforts to succeed in this live fire exercise. The members of 251st SAM Bn passed all the stages from individual training to harmonisation of joint action by all battery elements in combat. We performed an intensive operator crew training with final certification. For about a half of the guys, the BALT 2009 tactical exercise is a premiere,“ says commander SAM Bn, Lieutenant-Colonel Dalibor Zvonek. His deputy Major Petr Prskavec adds: “We divided preparation of assigned forces and assets into four periods starting in January and terminating in June. This is by all means where training of ground-based air defence professionals comes to a head. They will experience first-hand whether they are able to operate the 2K12 KUB system. Here, we will verify the fire battery’s capability to intercept real targets in a centralised fire control system environment.“Eighty-four hours to go to the D-day, four 2P25M2 launchers, called the guns, assume firing position on the beach. Alfa and Bravo batteries perform system functionality checks and other drills, without arming the missiles, enabling each fires crew to monitor separation of the target drone from the platform. The greatest attention already focuses on commanders of SURN CZ radar systems, who will turn keys to arm the ”Pusk“ (start) buttons and, pushing the red ”P“, they will shoot the missile at the imaginary adversary – the SRCP-WR aerial target (a rocket 2,500 mm long, with 200-mm diameter and weighing 75 kilograms launched from an aircraft). “I hope to have good luck and a steady hand. The preparation was long, but we are confident the crew will manage the final and decisive step,“ confides Lieutenant Boris Cvetinov. His colleague at Bravo, Warrant Officer Radek čech, points out the difference in training domestically, with L-159 ALCA subsonic combat aircraft from čáslav AFB playing their targets. “In reality, it is about higher speeds and thereby you have a much shorter reaction time to intercept the target once the platform rolls away. If you do not make it within three seconds, the result is usually negative,“ says the radar commander. At the Alfa position two kilometres away, adrenaline also rises considerably. “We may not let nervousness pass

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onto guys from the crew. It is rather about calming the down. One must be cold-blooded and concentrate oneself as much as possible. We wish each other the best of luck and off we go,“ concur both Lieutenant David Broum and Warrant Officer Jan Hochman.

“isKrAs“ On COMBAt heADinGThe time for the 251st SAM Bn to conduct live fire draws quickly near. The final check is up, the so-called registration shooting. “To train tracking the flight trajectory of both the SRCP-WR target drone and its launch platform, we are using the flight effort of a twosome of the Polish TS-11 Iskra jet trainer aircraft,“ explains Lieutenant-Colonel Petr Hromek from the Joint Force Command at the training area control tower.

However, the weather over the Baltic Sea is not really much in favour of the Czech Armed Forces’ GBAD units on exercise. Only during the first practice attack Iskra aircraft imitate the agreed engagement scenario. Then they turn to combat heading towards fires batteries individually. In spite of that, the Tuesday morning session is assessed positively. ”The practise met its objective. Six practice attacks were performed, during which crews got even closer to the reality of live fire. Although tomorrow the missile will fly in a different mode, the methodology of tracking and intercepting the target remains the same. Practice is now over. Tomorrow we are going live. Eight missiles on four targets,“ says commander 25th Surface-to-Air Brigade, Colonel Josef Slavík.

three seCOnDs tO DeCiDe MissiOn (un)suCCess A peek at storm clouds is scaring. When thunder roars over the sea and rain starts to come down, it causes shagreen with some individuals of the SAM brigade Strakonice. There we are: the first of July is designated as day for live fire of the 251st surface-to-air battalion.The Brigade command post (the “tent“) receives the first order from exercise director, COL Slavík. “Declaring G one twenty.“ The fire control officer staff immediately conveys that to subordinate units: “Alfa ten, Bravo ten, G-120, arm missiles,“ orders Colonel Stanislav Štěpánek. Sixty minutes on, the brigade command and control post gets ”sixty“. ”Alfa ten, Bravo ten, G-60, activate missiles,“ the radio voices.

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As minutes pass by, not only gets thicker the atmosphere in the tent, but also the rainshower in the firing sector. G-15 and then G-5 orders are directed to the firing positions.At that moment, a Polish Su-22M4 fighter bomber already takes off the runway at Swidwin, carrying four SRCP-WR targets on underwing pylons. After nearly ten minutes of flight, the machine gets into designated area above the shooting range. Pilot changes heading to 354 and performs a check overflight at flight level 180. On the second round, he already fires the first aerial rocket target, which however is not yet engaged by the Czech Armed Forces ground-based air defence units, because live fire is performed during the third and fourth ”go-around” of the Su aircraft, or alternately during the fifth one.“Bravo ten, target seventy four zero four, distance fifty, bearing thirteen, intercept,“ shouts the fire director into the receiver and, upon hearing ”roger that copy that”, he orders: “Bravo ten, engage target after roll-away with two.“The Polish fire safety officer makes sure everything is the way it should be and authorises firing. “Bravo ten, fire two,“ roars an officer’s voice in the tent. The response comes soon. “First fired“ - “Second fired,“ is heard from the loudspeaker. Two successive bangs attest that both missiles went off the launcher. In reality, the battery from Strakonice destroyed the target eleven kilometres before its firing post.

The second slot follows, in fact with the same program. Alfa is going to have her say. Thirty minutes on, the fighting is over. Colonel Štěpánek is taken by his colleagues in front of the tent, where he undergoes the victorious ceremony, being thrown into the air six times, for each missile fired. Commander 251 SAM Bn enters the tent, smiling. “I am more than happy. We are at an initial stage of training and this result is undoubtedly encouraging. Battalion members put their hearts and souls into it and did not let the negative factors affect them. They held steady as true professionals,“ relishes LTC Zvonek.Senior officials of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Czech Republic and the Joint Force Command also show satisfaction. Meeting with troops, Lieutenant-General Vlastimil Picek commends the best individuals and bestows the Medal of the General Staff ACR to the Brigade Commander, Colonel Slavík. “You have successfully completed live fire exercise and I would like to thank you very much indeed for that. Several months of your training were put to a good use through your accomplishing the goal of this tactical exercise. You have gained valuable experience that will help you use this modernised surface-to-air missile system in an increasingly effective manner,“ said the Chief of General Staff ACR in conclusion of the BALT 09 exercise.

by Pavel LANGPhotos by Jan KOUBA

Exercise BALT 2009 Six Missiles onto Three Targets

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Such difficult moments were experienced by the members of the Czech contingent in KFOR during unrests in Kosovo in March 2004. But despite necessary improvising, they have not always been as successful as in Lipjan, Kosovo. For instance, around 500 people gathered in Podujevo and set out to a nearby border crossing to Serbia. However, fifteen minutes on, they turned around and headed for a Serbian orthodox church. They started to pull bricks out from the church wall with their bare hands, then they forced out the gate. A handful of our soldiers, without any equipment and riot control training, were forced to retreat. Raging people rolled a couple of barrels with

Soldiers with law enforcement trainingin the Armed forces of the Czech republic, training soldiers for crowd and riot control is the responsibility of the chief CrC instructor of the Military Police.

A reinforced platoon was advancing against the crowd without the backing of armored personnel carriers and without specialised riot control gear. Rumours were spreading among Kosovar Albanians that a special unit had been employed against them. Czech soldiers snatched sticks of the people standing closest with their bare hands and threw them back into the crowd.

diesel to the altar and set the church on fire. What did not fell to the fire, the ensuing explosion completed.

stArtinG frOM sCrAtCh“It were particularly these events that caused us to consider both special equipment for soldiers deployed for KFOR and their training for crowd and riot control,“ recalls Captain Radim Hlubůček of the Military Police the time five years ago. “We selected suitable personnel to cover this specialty. One of them is the current Military Police Chief Instructor for Crowd and Riot Control,

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armour gear and helmet as well as drills with tonfa and riot control shield.Shooting is practised, as it inevitably differs from military standards. In addition to that, contingent members are able to gain experience with shooting shotguns with focus

Warrant Officer Miloslav Hanus. He relies on several other military police personnel in posts of certified instructors.“ Each of those individuals passed an internship with the Special Response Unit of the Police of the Czech Republic, which has an ample experience in this subject-matter area. The members of this SWAT type of unit were called to duty in large-scale events such as the meeting of the International Monetary Fund and NATO Summit in 2002. In addition to that, Warrant Officer Miloslav Hanus is in the process of completing studies at the Police Academy. To gain an instructor’s certificate, individuals are required, besides the mentioned practical experience, to practically participate in a real police crowd control operation, to have completed shotgun shooting course and an instructor training to be able to lead training sessions on crowd and riot control, police actions, shooting training, convoy security and close protection. They also have a first aid course.First of all, it was essential to develop adequate tactics. Of course, the expertise of Special Rapid Response Unit of the Police of the Czech Republic was used, but adapted to Kosovo conditions. Moreover, riot control tactics develop continuously. Rather passive eight or ten years ago, the tactics is much more proactive at present. Based on intelligence, or information on unlawful action endangering health or lives of KFOR members, the response commander is authorised to identify most aggressive individuals to be then apprehended.

AreA DeniAlPredeployment training of all contingents initially included a two-hour lecture on crowd and riot control. That naturally did not suffice. At present, all members of the D-Coy, an executive component of the contingent, undergo a seven-day practical training that includes academic training of at least four hours. Preparation designed for incident response commanders and staff focuses on specific aspects of deployment for non-standard operations of law-enforcement nature. The Czech contingent in KFOR has included a police training instructor for quite some time. Thanks to that, Warrant Officer Hanus spent four months in Kosovo on a tour. The training itself is graduated; it commences before deployment with individual training, and then team, platoon and company level training follows. Instructors concentrate on practical usage of body

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on specifics of using non-lethal munitions. In that case, cartridges with plastic pellets or plastic spherical bullets are used. This is something completely different than soldiers are normally used to. “We also practise drills of person apprehension, search and evacuation, line maintaining and

restoring, clearing an area occupied by the crowd and other purely law-enforcement actions,“ elaborates the chief instructor. Specialist training is naturally a dedicated effort with different focus. For instance, drivers learn to use their vehicles in crowd control operations. They also train joint procedures with crowd control squads and area denial manoeuvres. Firefighters are trained to gain familiarity with tactics employed by units in controlling the crowd and practise mutual cooperation; the same applies to K-9 personnel. Fire support group trains shooting non-lethal ammunition (plastic bullets) with shotguns, and the use of P1 and P2 flashbangs and military pyrotechnical devices. In such cases, the cooperation comes into play between the response team and a rifleman, or a group of riflemen. Snipers are only assigned from the level of the HQ Multinational Task Force Center. The MNTF-C includes a TPT (Tactical Psyops Team) comprising translators and consultants to establish contact with the crowd. Our unit also has the possibility to use locally hired interpreters. “Communication takes place in a slightly different manner than we are used to, for instance with the Police of the Czech Republic. There are certain specific aspects we needed to implement to our tactics. The possibility for preventive measures is substantially lower in such situations than back home,“ emphasises Miloslav Hanus.

GettinG useD tO flAMesA combat camera team, a sort of documentary group, is responsible to record chaotic situations according to commander’s instructions. As a part of the multinational task force, this element may be requested by the response commander if needed. Our unit may use the services of a documentarist. The obtained recordings are used not only for after action reviews, but they also increase

security of KFOR forces. If someone claims they acted erroneously, it is possible to check the footage. Special training includes preparation for situations when riot control teams are attacked with lethal force. The training includes drills for withdrawal, taking cover, replacement and relieving by standard military units. “These operations rank among the most demanding. Some Allied contingents of the Multinational Task Force Center use the very same team for both police and military operations. However, the option of replacing the riot control unit with a military one, which is on standby for such contingency, clearly appears to be much more efficient to us,“ stresses Warrant Officer Hanus. Special training also includes overcoming fear or mental barriers when the crowd hurl so-called Molotov cocktails and other incendiary devices.Likewise, the equipment of crowd and riot control units improved substantially. Each individual has a riot shield, body armour with helmet, fire-resistant hood, gloves, protective mask with filter against industrial agents, a tonfa, baton, extinguishing spray and a bandage packet. Some soldiers also have dedicated pyrotechnical devices. All of that is complemented with collective equipment, including means of transport, escort vehicles, water cannons, truck tankers for replenishment, engineer and medical hardware plus possibly helicopters. “In this respect, we still have a room for improvement in Kosovo. The fire engine that we have available here is not adapted to serve as a riot control water cannon. Contrary to police vehicles, the fire truck only has a single engine so that it is unable to deliver water at full throttle when on the move,“ explains the chief instructor. “We also lack hand grenades and blades attachable to armored vehicles to penetrate makeshift barriers.“

siDe By siDe fOr the tiMe BeinGThere are also certain challenges in the level of harmonisation among individual national response units in KFOR. Those train side by side in Kosovo, but most of the time not as a single formation. “We are seeking ways to possibly practise operations together with the Irish or Swedes. During the six-month tour, there are several large-scale exercises with model scenarios held in the territory of Kosovo, where individual national contingents participate, but they do not have the possibility to practise joint performance of individual types of police actions,“ states Miloslav Hanus. “It also very much depends on what conditions the contingent provides for us. Sometimes we get two platoons that we can work with all the time. The other two platoons do not undergo this training prior to deployment; they are only trained in Kosovo. In other instances, only two days are scheduled for such type of training, the other platoons then train on other two days. A comprehensive exercise is then held at the end. Since the time when a police training instructor has been included on the contingent, there are glimmers of better times are on the horizon in this specialty area.

by Vladimír MAREKPhotos by Vladimír MAREK and Military Police

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Fifteen hundred soldiers from the Czech Armed Forces and two thousand military professionals from the United Kingdom, Slovakia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Canada and Denmark. On the ground: T-72 M4CZ tanks, BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicles, KUB and RBS-70 air defence systems plus 155-mm AS 90 self-propelled gun howitzers, GMLRS rocket launchers, 86-mm mortars and HVM Rapier air defence systems. In the air: all types of fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft of Czech Air Force, Sojka III unmanned aerial vehicle, as well as British Tornado GR4 fighters, Hawk trainers, Lynx helicopters, two E3A and E3D AWACS aircraft and Lithuanian L-39 Albatros. From April 27th till May 15th, 2009, led by Commander 1st (UK) Armoured Division, Brigadier Robert Weighill, all the hardware with their crews and other units jointly performed combat activities in the order of battle of multinational division from the Náměšť Air Force Base and Libavá and Brdy Military Training Areas.“The exercise is designed both to maintain and enhance qualifications of forward air controllers, but also to

Exercise Flying Rhino 09A Danish forward air controller is leading a British fighter onto a ground target in a Czech training area. In reality, Captain Jimmy Mogensen guides Major Helen Hillard and Major Nikki Thomas flying Tornado GR4 to an “enemy“ convoy in the Libavá Military Training Area. The scenario of the Flying Rhino command-post exercise included dozens of similar joint ground and air episodes.

train joint coordination of controlling live fire involving artillery and air assets. Various units and formations are drawn together into the tactical plan of ground and air operations, moreover in an international context,“ says the Flying Rhino 09 Chief Coordinator, Major Jakub Štefánek, and adds that compared to the previous runs of Flying Rhino, there is a substantially bigger involvement of land forces. ”What originally was a minor air event, grew over time into an international exercise. Approximately two thirds of service personnel on the exercise are members of Land Forces,“ specifies MAJ Štefánek.This year’s Flying Rhino is divided into two phases, with first focused on harmonising and practising individual procedures. It is no secret that the exercise, which included thirteen flight days, centered on training units and Forward Air Controllers (FAC) on basic skills. The second phase escalated the scenario and increased complexity. Command and control system from division down to tactical components was activated. Missions

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were also performed in electronic warfare environment. A joint action involving land forces and air force assets in a tactical situation without combat fire took place in the Libavá MTA, while the Brdy MTA saw a live fire support.

CleArinG the AnensKy hillMonitoring the situation and patrolling, that was one of the principal assignments of company-equivalent task force (CoyTF) of the 7th Mechanised Brigade. “Our unit is a part of the Libavá task force, comprising Czech, British and Danish military professionals. The objective is to maintain a safe and secure environment in assigned area of responsibility. The scenario of episodic incidents is based on recent operational experience involving NATO forces,“ explains Captain Přemysl Štěpánek, Chief of Staff the 71st mechanised battalion in Hranice and Commander CoyTF at Libavá. Just a couple of minutes ago, his soldiers cleared one of the structures on the Anensky Hill free of the opponent. Following the road, a reinforced squad are now advancing to another checkpoint. Each

of the troops focus on their firing sector. ”Our formation also includes soldiers from the British air defence unit,“ says First Lieutenant Jan Komínek. His words are abruptly cut by a assault rifle burst. The patrol is under attack by “terrorists“. Contact with enemy turns into an intensive firefight. Troops of the Czech-British force are trying to get round the adversary. Under cover fire, they are advancing foot by foot. In the closing stage, they throw hand-grenades at enemy positions. “Clear, clear,“ resounds soon from several places. “To outsiders, it may sometimes seem that we play soldiers, or war. But they would be wrong. We practise to be adequately prepared for our mission. Many of us already served operational tours on foreign operations, so that we are able to imagine uneasy situations there,“ says Lieutenant Daniel Dubovský. First lieutenant Komínek comments: ”Joint international exercises like this one undoubtedly enhance professionalism of each soldier. Besides communicating in English, we share valuable advice and lessons. Every opportunity for working together must be used. Flying Rhino is

a big plus for us.“ Major James Mardlin, a British officer, whose subordinates may also take credit in the patrol’s ”victory”, concurs with his statement. “Any operational deployment requires that we work closely together. Success is contingent on apparent details; that is my experience from operational deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan. I regard opportunities to train with foreign partners as beneficial,“ he adds.

MAJOrs AttACKinGA cloud of dust grows grows in the target zone of čermná fire area and a deafening bang follows. Pilot Helen Hillard, after dropping a bomb at “enemy“ vehicle convoy, pulls the Tornado up sharply, to free the space up for another fighter to attack. Insiders know that she was not alone in the assault. One of her aides on the ground was a FAC, a forward air controller. This time, the FAC was Captain Jimmy Mogensen of Denmark. “We were successful again. Insurgents got some beating. I am scoring a successful control onto target,“ smiles

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the officer and makes a visual farewell with the British female aircrew of Tornado GR4.There are a few minutes before the Hawk jet trainers arrive, and the Dannish officer is comfortable to give an interview. To start with, he recalls his tour in Afghanistan and then he allows a look behind the scenes of the FAC art. “Controlling the aircraft onto the target is normally a question of two to three minutes. First, you need to mutually identify yourself, to prove that the right controller is speaking to the right aircrew of tactical aircraft or attack helicopter. Then I give, exactly according to prescribed formula, target data to the pilot. For instance, the target coordinates, description and final attack cone. I must be able to feel like the pilot and imagine the pilot’s vision from the airplane cockpit. There is no time for lengthy explanations,“ says CAPT Mogensen and admits that even forward air controllers may make mistakes. “Ninety-five percent controlling success, that is my personal experience. You need to have some predisposition; not everything can be trained. Nevertheless, I am very glad to be involved in exercises like this one. It is about another experience and we learn many new lessons in this rugged and hilly landscape of the Libavá military training area.“Mi-24/35 Hind helicopters from the 221st Helicopter Squadron Náměšť arrive the “RAT“ a „“JERBOA“ designated exercise air spaces. Their mission today is to provide CAS, the close air support. “We employ two to four helicopters in individual slots,“ explains Lieutenant-

Colonel Ivan Pospíchal. “We practise cooperation with FACs on requesting close air support. With respect to the fact that there is quite a number of new helicopter captains and operators in our squadron, exercise Flying Rhino provides good lessons to draw experience. Each CAS coordination case, be it by Czech, British or Danish FAC, is original.“

by Pavel LANGPhotos by Jan KOUBA

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