Non-Subscriber Extract
Difficult start for EU Battlegroups
By Jim Dorschner
10 December 2007
The next 12 months will be a watershed year in the evolution of a European defence capability as the second wave of EU Battlegroups (EUBGs) go operational and further consideration is given to establishing airlift and helicopter forces.
The first two BGs to assume a standby role in January 2007 were Franco-Belgian and German-Dutch-Finnish. In mid-year they were replaced by battlegroups from Hungary-Italy-Slovenia and Bulgaria-Cyprus-Greece-Romania. Under the EU Battlegroup Concept established in 2005, two battlegroups are now on standby to deploy within five to 10 days of approval from the EU Council, providing the ability to conduct two separate operations at once if necessary, self-sustainable for 30 days or up to 120 days with replenishment.
EUBGs are rapid-reaction crisis-response forces organised for specific missions such as conflict prevention, separation of parties by force, military stabilisation, citizen evacuation and humanitarian operations. While they are fully prepared for combat, EUBGs are not intended for high-intensity conflict. With a nominal strength of 1,500 troops built around an infantry battalion with supporting arms and services, numbers can exceed 3,000, depending on attachments. Each battlegroup has a lead nation that provides most of the resources, with partner nations providing sub-capabilities, though several BGs scheduled for deployment by 2011 will be fully constituted by a single country. Operational command and control (C2) of deployed BGs may be exercised by a designated headquarters in the lead nation or one in another country if more appropriate.
Activation of the Nordic Battlegroup (NBG) in January 2008 is generating considerable interest as a reflection of lessons learned thus far. As a result, it is a more robust force with a wider range of capabilities, including a helicopter detachment.
Image: Finland's EU Battlegroup Combat Training Centre.