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Spain Port Operation kicks off DEFENDER 23
A CH-47 Chinook is offloaded from a vessel by U.S. Army 5th Battalion, 159th Aviation Regiment, 244th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade with support from Naval Supply Systems Command Fleet Logistics Center - Rota for Defender 23 at Naval Station Rota, Spain on April 6, 2023. DEFENDER 23 is a U.S. Army Europe and Africa led exercise focused on the strategic deployment of continental United States-based forces, employment of Army Prepositioned Stocks, and interoperability with Allies and partners. Taking place from 22 April to 23 June, DEFENDER 23 demonstrates USAREUR-AF’s ability to aggregate U.S.-based combat power quickly in Eastern Europe, increase lethality of the NATO Alliance through long-distance fires, build unit readiness in a complex joint, multi-national environment, and leverage host nation capabilities to increase USAREUR-AF’s operational reach.