• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

NATO's Allied Reaction Force Embarks on Eastern Europe's Largest Military Training Exercise in 2025

NATO Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE)

Feb 3 2025

ALEXANDROUPOLIS, Greece -- NATO forces have begun a large-scale deployment across Eastern Europe as part of Exercise Steadfast Dart 2025, the Alliance's largest live military training exercise this year, testing the rapid deployment of forces to its eastern flank.

Steadfast Dart 2025 is part of a series of major NATO exercises taking place this year, aimed at testing the Alliance's ability to respond to crises and reinforce its deterrence posture. The Exercise runs throughout January and February and marks the first full-scale operational deployment of NATO's Allied Reaction Force (ARF) since its establishment in July 2024. Currently under the command of NATO Rapid Deployable Corps - Italy (NRDC-ITA), the ARF is a high-readiness, multi-domain force designed for swift deployment to crisis areas.

The deployment includes UK troops from the 6th Regiment Royal Logistics Corps and 2 Rifles - Light Infantry Battalion, alongside Spanish Legion forces, who have been transported by sea rail and air. Military vehicles, including battle tanks, self-propelled artillery, and armoured personnel carriers, have been unloaded at Alexandroupolis before continuing to their destinations. The troops will join others travelling from Germany and Türkiye. In total NATO will deploy over 10,000 personnel, 1500 military vehicles, more than 20 aircraft, and 17 naval assets, to Steadfast Dart 2025.

Following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, NATO deployed elements of its NATO Response Force (NRF) to reinforce its forward presence in Central and Eastern Europe. The establishment of the Allied Reaction Force (ARF) in 2024 was part of a broader restructuring of NATO's high-readiness forces. NATO's ability to rapidly move forces across strategic transit hubs like Alexandroupolis is essential to ensuring an effective and credible deterrence posture in the region. The port has been increasingly used in recent years for multinational exercises and military movements.

Large scale exercises like this ensure that troops from different nations can operate seamlessly across all domains including coordinated air, land, and sea movements, as well as incorporating cyber and electronic warfare elements. This ability is a key part of NATO strategy. Military planners say the force must be capable of operating in contested environments, integrating cyber, space, and conventional military capabilities to counter a range of threats.

For further updates, check back here and follow #SteadfastDart25 on all social media platforms.

Story by STDT NMIC