09.04.2022.
“Fire Shield“ shows Serbian Armed Forces' capabilities
Exercise “Fire Shield 2022” featuring a reinforced tactical group in a defensive night operation, which was carried out at the “Pasuljanske Livade” Range in the presence of the President of the Republic and Supreme Commander of the Serbian Armed Forces Aleksandar Vučić, has shown great determination, skills, firepower and cooperation among Army, Air Force and Air Defence units and Special Forces in response to challenges, risks and threats to the security of our country.
The final stage of the exercise which lasted for several days, with more than 1000 members of the Serbian Armed Forces participating and about 100 combat means used, was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Nebojša Stefanović, PhD, and Chief of the Serbian Armed Forces General Staff, General Milan Mojsilović. Activities at the "Pasuljanske Livade" Range began with members of the 63rd Parachute Brigade and the 72nd Special Operations Brigade setting up a blockade, breaking and neutralizing an inserted enemy group.
The infantry company support platoon performing the role of a company fire team, took the alternate fire position due to the threat of a potential attack, using three new MRAP off-road vehicles and a command vehicle. Our air defence then engaged the detected enemy aircraft using the "Needle" missile system and the "PASARS" artillery and missile system firing S-2M missiles. The 120 mm mortar illuminating round played the role of the target.The tactical group’s reconnaissance unit employed the "Sparrow" UAV to perform aerial reconnaissance. Armoured reconnaissance units demonstrated the ground-based intelligence collection process using a command and reconnaissance vehicle and a multi-sensor intelligent platform.
The onlookers then had the opportunity to see the occupation of fire positions by the covering force consisting of an armoured reconnaissance company operating ten BRDM-2МS armoured reconnaissance vehicles. The unit, then, spotted the enemy and opened fire on its forces. Next, an anti-tank section armed with the “Kornet” missile system demonstrated the neutralization of enemy fire positions.
After spotting the enemy infantry within the main road zone, the commander of the tactical group employed three crews manning "MILOŠ-V1" and "MILOŠ-V2" remotely controlled unmanned platforms to stop and neutralize the enemy infantry. The tactical group commander ordered the sniper pairs to destroy important enemy targets, demonstrating the occupation of favourable fire positions within the first line company disposition and the delivery of precision fire on the targets.
In order to consolidate the defence and close the space in front of the waiting positions, the first line of defence was occupied by the T-72 tank platoon, which also included the modernized M-84 tank and the M-80 AB1 infantry fighting vehicle.After spotting the enemy movement, the commander of the tactical group occupying the waiting position ordered a rifle platoon on "LAZAR-3" armoured combat vehicles to demonstrate the occupation of the defence area, disembarkation and delivering fire using small arms and collective weapons.
After stopping and engaging the covering force, the enemy started preliminary bombardment, delivering fire on our forward defence area.
Next, a formation of low-flying enemy helicopters was spotted, so the PASARS anti-aircraft battery was ordered to neutralize them. When the second formation of low-flying aircraft batteries appeared, a "PANTSIR S-1" battery delivered gun fire.
In order to slow down the enemy attack, the tactical group commander ordered the 155 mm Nora B52 battery to engage the advancing enemy forces. The commander of our forces then ordered the brigade missile group to deliver fire using the "OGANJ" and "PLAMEN-S" self-propelled multiple rocket launchers. The Serbian Armed Forces artillery continued to deliver fire using the 122-mm self-propelled howitzers, which opened fire on the enemy using the so-called "MRSI" mode.
After spotting the targets, our tank platoon engaged the enemy combat elements, and the advance of enemy armoured and mechanized units was stopped by delivering strong fire using POLO M-83 missiles.
After the enemy delivered artillery fire on our forces, the front line units then demonstrated appropriate defence procedures. Next, the battalion fire team delivered fire using 120 mm mortars in order to prevent the enemy from regrouping and bringing in fresh troops.
The Mi-35 and H-145B combat helicopters then delivered effective fire on enemy armoured vehicles, hindering their advance.The Mi-35 combat helicopter, one of the deadliest in its class, delivered fire using missiles and 23 mm guns, and the H-145B helicopter fired unguided missiles and the 12.7 mm machine gun.
Under the exercise scenario, the enemy came to the forward edge of the main barrage area, so the entire fire system was activated in order to stop the attack.
The artillery fire support began with a fire delivered by a group of 122 mm "GVOZDIKA" self-propelled howitzers, followed by 155 mm "NORA B52" self-propelled howitzers and "PLAMEN S" and "OGANJ" multiple rocket launchers.
At the very end of the exercise, the viewers could watch the procedure of fielding a tank company reinforced with a mechanized platoon and a rifle platoon on "Hummer" vehicles, and the deployment of a Mi-17 helicopter on a MEDEVAC mission.
The joint live-fire tactical exercise "Fire Shield 2022" was jointly performed by Army units, Air Force and Air Defence units, the 72nd Special Operations Brigade and the 63rd Parachute Brigade.More than a thousand members of the Serbian Armed Forces took part and about 100 combat means and systems were used in the exercise aiming to enhance the capability of the Serbian Armed Forces commands and units to carry out defensive day and night operations on different types of terrain and in different weather conditions.
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