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Italy hosts multinational helicopter exercise

Xinhua, June 23, 2015 Adjust font size:

Italian Blade 2015, this year's largest military rotary-wing exercise in Europe organized under the framework of the European Defense Agency (EDA) is being held in Italy, the EDA said Tuesday.

More than 1,000 military personnel and 30 helicopters coming from seven European nations are taking part in the exercise, which started on Monday and will run to July 3. It was delivered by the Italian Army Aviation in Viterbo, about 80 km north of Rome.

During the two weeks, helicopter crews as well as ground forces will take part in joint missions during which efforts will be made to maximize interoperability between all assets involved.

They will fly and operate in conditions likely to be faced in future operations, while promoting cooperation in helicopter training through the integration of multinational elements in the air and on the ground, according to the EDA.

Crews from seven different countries have started training together, using joint procedures and tactics during missions of increasing complexity, the EDA said.

A mentor team of six instructors from Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden and the United Kingdom will support multinational crews in the preparation and execution of complex missions, said the EDA. Endit