One Belgian airbase will be the scene of a large-scale NATO exercise against Chemical, Biological, Radioactive and Nuclear Defence (CBRN) threats in the coming days.
Some 600 soldiers from 18 countries will travel to Koksijde Air Base to take part in the exercise 'Toxic Trip 2023', an annual NATO Air Operations Exercise focused on CBRN Defence interoperability from 23 to 29 September.
The purpose of the exercise is to extensively practise and coordinate the techniques and procedures for passive and CBRN defence of each nation and, by extension, the entire NATO territory. The exercise scenarios which form part of the annual Toxic Trip tests are based on simulated, multi-national operations requiring the ability to operate in a contaminated environment on a deployed airfield.
Credit: Belgian Air Force
During the exercise, the participating countries will demonstrate their skills such as locating affected areas and evacuating and decontaminating personnel and equipment such as vehicles and aircraft. This should enable even better and faster action and cooperation in the event of a real threat, the Belgian Defence Ministry said.
Belgian soldiers will participate alongside other NATO Member States. There will also be soldiers from Sweden, which is a future NATO member, as well as soldiers from alliance partner countries such as Austria and South Korea.
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The soldiers will also be trained in the deployment of mobile and transportable collective CBRN shelters (COLPRO) and use them in conjunction with other nations' air assets. The current status of CBRN defence will also be analysed, as well as the training implications derived from emerging threats.
At the end of the exercise, events that evolved from it will be discussed to draw conclusions that will "support nations in improving their CBRN defence training methods and procedures."
