Skopje, 22 May 2023 (MIA) - The 'Immediate Response 23' exercise, which is part of the largest multinational joint exercise 'Defender Europe 23', is to kick off on Monday at the Krivolak army field and will last until June 2. 

The ‘Immediate Response 23’ is to take place in eight countries in the region, including North Macedonia, Albania, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Croatia, Slovenia and Kosovo.

Around 1,850 members of four NATO armies - the United States, North Macedonia, Albania and Montenegro, as well as a partner country, Kosovo will participate in the part of the exercise.

Additionally, the Army of North Macedonia with about 130 members will participate in the realization of this exercise in Germany, Slovenia, Croatia, Kosovo and Albania.

The overall objective of the exercise is for NATO allies and partner nations to improve military capabilities and interoperability. By performing a combined range of operations, missions and activities, the exercise affects improvement of speed of action and synchronizing operational procedures.

The units will use their own formation equipment and armament, and the equipment includes armored vehicles from the "HMMWV' series, "AH-64 APACHE" combat helicopters, "HH-60 (Black Hawk)" and "CH-47 (Chinook) transport helicopters, "HH-60" medical helicopters, "Mi 8/17"  transport helicopters, and howitzers and mortars artillery weapons.

The project ORIGIN will be presented during the exercise at Krivolak, which is a platform for testing and demonstrating new technologies, i.e. an autonomous, land-based robotic vehicle of the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command.

Due to environmental protection, in cooperation with the AMBICON laboratory of the university in Shtip, suspended particles at Krivolak will be measured for the entire duration of the exercise.