Defence Groups of the NBC Brigades receive training in the 'Phoenix' exercise

The Defence Groups of the Land Forces NBC Brigades have been trained in command, control and the conducting of NBC Defence operations through the 'Phoenix' exercise, held from 5 to 12 May at the “Daoíz y Velarde” barracks in Paterna (Valencia) and organised by the nº 1 NBC Defence Regiment.

Amongst other activities, participants had to advise the command to resolve incidents and use the IT programme “CBRN Analysis,” which they are obliged to use at the NATO headquarters and units in order to do calculations and send high alert messages and NBC information.

The NBC threat that they have had to face has fluctuated between a conventional adversary power, with a readiness to employ chemical war arms, and an asymetric threat, for which the rebel group had the capability to employ radiological dispersion devices (dirty bombs), as well as improvised chemically agressive devices and homemade ammunition. This is together with the potential to sabotage industrial facilities and cause the emission of toxic industrial materials.

As for units not from the Land Forces, the NBC Defence Group from the 16th “Canarias” Brigade and the Marine Infantry Brigade also participated in the event.