US, Polish Airmen launch Exercise Hussar Saber 26-4

POWIDZ, Poland – Hussar Saber 26-4, a bilateral training exercise between U.S. and Polish forces, began Sept. 14, and will focus on strengthening each nations’ mission readiness, interoperability and ability to rapidly deploy and sustain operations.

The two-week exercise includes service members and aircraft assigned to the 86th Airlift Wing and 435th Air Ground Operations Wing, at Ram-stein Air Base, 52nd Fighter Wing, at Spangdahlem Air Base and Poland’s 33rd Air Base to conduct integrated training across Poland.

“Hussar Saber is a bilateral exercise conducted four times per year to facilitate integration and partner capabilities,” said U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Brian K. Jarrell, 52d Operations Group Detachment 1 commander. “Integration between U.S. and Polish Air Forces sets the baseline for contingency operations and successful European deterrence on NATO’s Eastern flank.”

The training includes tactical airlift and airdrop operations, low-level flights, night operations, and landings in austere conditions. The various scenarios are designed to replicate conditions they could encounter during Agile Combat Employment operations.

“Hussar Saber brings teams together to get after desired learning objectives that support U.S. Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa priorities,” said U.S. Air Force Capt. Connor Ullom, 37th Airlift Squadron pilot and Hussar Saber 26-4 mission commander. “We simulate a deployed environment where a joint mission planning cell prepares our crews to execute complex missions to test our capabilities, tactics, techniques, and procedures.”

The exercise demonstrates the nations’ ability to operate together in support of collective deterrence and practice rapid deployment of personnel and equipment to meet demands of short-notice taskings.