More than 2,300 Paratroopers from the U.S. Army’s 173rd Airborne Brigade and over 2,100 personnel from ten allied and partner nations have commenced Exercise Saber Junction 26 at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center.
Overseen by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF‑AF) as the division-level higher command, the rotation validates warfighting readiness and strengthens NATO interoperability for large-scale combat operations across the European theater. This is reported by DVIDS.
The exercise tests rapid deployment, joint forcible entry, and offensive and defensive operations within a contested environment marked by electronic warfare, unmanned aerial systems, and degraded communications. The 173rd Airborne Brigade is showcasing modernization initiatives through its internal Bayonet Innovation Team, which designs, builds, and fields low-cost FPV drones, ISR platforms, ground robots, and AI-enabled tools using lessons from ongoing conflicts.
SETAF‑AF commander Maj. Gen. Matthew W. Brown noted that the crucible rotation is designed to expose operational gaps and accelerate learning, while 173rd Brigade commander Col. Mark E. Bush emphasized that the exercise validates the unit’s ability to execute missions alongside international partners. Participating nations include Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Kosovo, Lithuania, Poland, Ukraine, and the United States.
