site.btaThracian Warrior Multi-national Exercise Ends at Koren Training Ground

The multi-national exercise Thracian Warrior - 24 ended on Tuesday with demonstration shooting and dynamic and static display of weapons and equipment at Koren Training Ground near the southern village of Koren. The exercise at the Novo Selo and Koren training areas involved more than 2,000 servicepersons and some 700 units of equipment. The exercise started on May 28.

Units from Italy, Albania, Greece, North Macedonia, Croatia, Montenegro and the United States also participated.

Crew members of the Tennessee National Guard's 1-181st Field Artillery Regiment, headquartered in Chattanooga, conducted live firing with the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS). Communication was effected via Starlink satellite terminals. Fifteen heavy and light weapons, as well as aircraft and other equipment, were on static display. 

Thracian Warrior - 24 Commander, Col. Ivaylo Ivanov, Head of Operations, Bulgarian Land Forces Command, said the exercise was conducted in several stages and in several directions. The aim was to increase the Allies' skills and interoperability. Also, several experiments were conducted.

The Deputy Chief of Defence, Lt. Gen. Mihail Popov, said what was demonstrated on Tuesday was impressive.

Deputy Defence Minister Radostin Iliev said the plans for modernization of the Armed Forces were part of a programme approved by Parliament envisaging 13 priority projects.