Promoted by the Portuguese Air Force (FAP) the ‘European Air Transport Training 2016’ (EATT16) exercise provides European forces with tactical training.
According to the FAP the exercise aims to “achieve a high level of interoperability between air transport aircraft, providing their crews with the necessary qualifications to carry out tactical operations in current international theatres.”
The exercise is being watched by Brazil and Bulgaria and involves 1,700 soldiers from Portugal, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Lithuania, Holland, Poland and the UK.
They are being put up at the Beja Air Base No. 11 in the Alentejo, and taking part in exercises in “inland central/north mainland Portugal.”
Elaborating on the matter, the Portuguese Air Force said it has received a growing number of requests to organise and coordinate such large-scale exercises, namely the ‘Hot Blade’, ‘Real Thaw’, ‘EATT’ and the ‘Trident Juncture’, and now stages at least one event a year.
According to the FAP it is due to the “competence” and “organisational skills” of the Portuguese military involved in the exercises as well as the air space and the weather, and “above all else” the type of training offered, which is “unique in Europe” that make Portugal so popular for hosting the events.