site.btaBulgarian, Spanish Special Forces Showcase Combat Skills in Steadfast Dart-2025 Exercise

Bulgarian and Spanish Special Operation Forces personnel participating in NATO's Steadfast Dart-2025 (STDT25) exercise demonstrated combat capabilities, weaponry and equipment on Thursday at the Tsrancha Training Area (South Central Bulgaria).

An operation for seizing an enemy position was carried out, a "terrorist" inside a building was neutralized, and sniper fire was conducted. A static display featured military vehicles and equipment used by the Bulgarian and Spanish Special Operation Forces.

Bulgaria's Deputy Chief of Defence, Lieutenant General Mihail Popov, said: "The exercise demonstrates NATO's intent to enhance its procedures to reduce deployment time for Allied forces on the Alliance's southeastern flank. At the same time, it is clear evidence of NATO's improved capabilities for deterrence and, if necessary, the establishment of a robust defence across NATO's entire area." 

He emphasized that one of the key tasks for Bulgarian troops during the exercise is to test procedures for host nation support. Gen. Popov noted that throughout the year, Bulgarian military personnel participate in NATO exercises, improving cooperation with their colleagues and contributing to the security of the Black Sea region and the Alliance's southeastern flank as a whole.

Major General Eldon Millar, Deputy Commander of NATO Rapid Deployable Corps Italy, stressed that NATO is a defensive alliance, and its troops train and prepare because peace and security require readiness. He voiced a commitment to defending every NATO Ally.

Major General Angel Herrezuelo Perez, Commander of Spain's Joint Special Operations Command, said Steadfast Dart-2025 is an excellent opportunity to enhance interoperability, not only in the land, naval and air components, but also with the host nation's Special Operations Forces. Training, sharing experiences and exchanging knowledge are valuable opportunities for mutual capability enhancement, he said.

Steadfast Dart-2025 is NATO's most extensive military exercise of the year, marking the first large-scale deployment of the Allied Reaction Force, a high-readiness, force-generated, multi-domain and multinational capability that can be deployed and employed immediately on the orders of the Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR). The exercise was launched on January 8 and will end on February 21. Steadfast Dart brings together approximately 10,000 service personnel from nine nations, including Bulgaria, France, Greece, Italy, Romania, Spain, Slovenia, Turkiye and the United Kingdom. The exercise is taking place across multiple locations, with key operations concentrated in Bulgaria, Greece and Romania. Air, Land, Maritime and Special Operation Forces are participating: 17 naval assets, including amphibious landing ships, frigates, mine countermeasure vessels, destroyers and submarines; more than 20 aircraft including EF2000, F16, AV 8B HARRIER, A400; more than 1,500 military vehicles including Battle Tanks, Rockets Launchers, Self-propelled Artillery, Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFVs) and Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs).