October 7 (BTA) - C-27J Spartan
 flight and logistics crews from Bulgaria, Italy, Lithuania and
Slovakia took part in the European Spartan Exercise-2021
(ESE-2021) between September 23 and October 8. Part of the tasks
 were carried out at the Cheshnegirovo Airfield, the Bezmer
Airfield and the Elena Air Force Range.

"I dare say that the training was a success, judging from the
results achieved," Colonel Peyo Donchev of the Bulgarian Air
Force, who was in charge of flight training on the part of the
hosts, told BTA.

"The capabilities that we are seeking to maintain and upgrade in
 such an exercise are geared to the performance of joint
missions in a multinational format," Colonel Donchev added.

During ESE-2021, the military transports drilled tactical flight
 elements and performed low-altitude flights and evasion of
anti-aircraft fire. Joint flights with Su-25 jets were also
flown, with the tactical situation being arranged and the flight
 assignments being planned under the guidance of an Italian
tactical instructor from the Italian C-27J Spartan simulator
training centre in Italy.

The underlying idea of this exercise, designed by the European
Defence Agency, is for the countries having a Spartan C-27 J
fleet to be able to develop common procedures for the technical
operation and maintenance of their fleet.  

European air transport training events of Spartan C-27J users
are held annually to harmonize operations and training  (common
tactics, techniques and procedures,  harmonization of pilot
training, etc.). PP/LG

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