MIHAIL KOGALNICEANU, Romania — Romanian and American troops are staging joint exercises as part of a New York-based Army brigade's nine-month deployment in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve, which aims to reassure NATO's European allies in light of Russia's invasion in Ukraine.
Troops flew three Black Hawk helicopters Wednesday and headed to a nearby shooting range, where they planned to confront a simulated land attack before flying back to a base near the Black Sea.
Romanian servicemen walk next to an US Army 2nd Battalion, 10th Regiment, 10th Brigade UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter during a joint US-Romanian air assault exercise at the Mihail Kogalniceanu airbase, eastern Romania, Wednesday, March 8, 2017. Photo Credit: Vadim Ghirda/AP
The exercises are the first joint training involving the 10th Combat Aviation Brigade from Fort Drum, New York and 25 Romanian soldiers. Last week, eight Black Hawk copters and 50 U.S. troops arrived at the base.
A total of 86 helicopters and 2,200 troops have been deployed to NATO'S eastern flank as part of Atlantic Resolve operation.
US Army 2nd Battalion, 10th Regiment, 10th Brigade UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters take off during a joint US-Romanian air assault exercise at the Mihail Kogalniceanu airbase, eastern Romania, Wednesday, March 8, 2017. Photo Credit: Vadim Ghirda/AP
An US service member directs Romanian servicemen during a joint US-Romanian air assault exercise at the Mihail Kogalniceanu airbase, eastern Romania, Wednesday, March 8, 2017. Photo Credit: Vadim Ghirda/AP
Romanian servicemen walk next to an US Army 2nd Battalion, 10th Regiment, 10th Brigade UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter during a joint US-Romanian air assault exercise at the Mihail Kogalniceanu airbase, eastern Romania, Wednesday, March 8, 2017. Photo Credit: Vadim Ghirda/AP
