DEFENDER is the Army’s largest annual opportunity to exercise moving personnel and equipment into theater across modes for initial and follow-on operations critical to Large Scale Combat Operations. Led by U.S. Army Europe and Africa, the exercise focuses on the strategic deployment of CONUS-based forces, employment of Army Prepositioned Stock and follow-on exercises demonstrating lethality and interoperability with Allies and partners

DEFENDER 25 Outreach tour
DEFENDER 25 Infographic

Videos
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Video by Sgt. Caitlinn Belcher, Sgt. Kalypso Braynen, Sgt. Dustin Broaddus, Capt. Denny Mui
Reel: Swift Response 25 HOSPEX Lt. Col. Brian Cohee - Drone Resupply
361st Theater Public Affairs Support Element
May 21, 2025 | 0:34
U.S. Army Lt. Col. Brian Cohee, Chief Medical Officer of the 512th Field Hospital, discusses the use of drones for blood resupply as part of the multinational Hospital Exercise (HOSPEX), Vepriai, Lithuania, May 15, 2025. The TRV-150 drone delivered simulated blood to field care locations across the Pabrade Training Area, enhancing survivability and speed in austere conditions.

“This system would allow us to send life saving supplies to forward units that may not have access through other means,” said Cohee. “Testing this capability was important to operate in future wars that may have contested airspace and logistics.”

DEFENDER 25 is the largest annual U.S. Army exercise in Europe incorporating approximately 25,000 soldiers from 29 Allied and partner nations to rehearse the ability to rapidly deploy forces, integrate and expand multi-domain operations capability, and demonstrate combined command and control structures. Simultaneous operations will take place during three exercises—Swift Response, Immediate Response, and Saber Guardian—across 15 countries, building readiness and interoperability between the U.S., NATO Allies, and partner nations from May 11-June 24, 2025.

(U.S. Army Reserve video by Sgt. Kalypso Braynen, Sgt. Caitlinn Belcher, Sgt. Dustin Broaddus, and Capt. Denny Mui)
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Reel: Swift Response 25 HOSPEX Lt. Col. Brian Cohee - Drone Resupply
Reel: Swift Response 25 HOSPEX Lt. Col. Brian Cohee - Drone Resupply
U.S. Soldiers Conduct Wet Gap Crossing for Saber Guardian 25 (Part 2)
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U.S. Soldiers Conduct Wet Gap Crossing for Saber Guardian 25 (Part 2)
B-Roll: U.S. Soldiers Conduct an Award Ceremony for Saber Guardian 25
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B-Roll: U.S. Soldiers Conduct an Award Ceremony for Saber Guardian 25
Saber Guardian 25 - Wet Gap Crossing Drone Footage
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Saber Guardian 25 - Wet Gap Crossing Drone Footage
B-Roll: U.S. Soldiers Conduct Wet Gap Crossing and Award Ceremony for Saber Guardian 25
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B-Roll: U.S. Soldiers Conduct Wet Gap Crossing and Award Ceremony for Saber Guardian 25
2CR Soldiers conduct Battle Drill Six- enter and clear building
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2CR Soldiers conduct Battle Drill Six- enter and clear building
Brig. Gen. Andrew B. Stone visits 2CR Soldier during Saber Guardian 25
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Brig. Gen. Andrew B. Stone visits 2CR Soldier during Saber Guardian 25
2CR Soldiers execute room clearing readiness training during Saber Guardian 25
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2:50
2CR Soldiers execute room clearing readiness training during Saber Guardian 25
REEL: 7th Engineer Brigade and Romanian Army conduct wet gap crossing in Romania during Saber Guardian 25
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0:36
REEL: 7th Engineer Brigade and Romanian Army conduct wet gap crossing in Romania during Saber Guardian 25
4-2CR Conducts Urban Combat Training During Saber Guardian 25
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0:52
4-2CR Conducts Urban Combat Training During Saber Guardian 25
Saber Guardian 25: U.S. and NATO Forces Showcase Lethality Across the European Theater
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0:34
Saber Guardian 25: U.S. and NATO Forces Showcase Lethality Across the European Theater
12th CAB conducts Apache live fire during Saber Guardian 25
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12th CAB conducts Apache live fire during Saber Guardian 25
Maryland Army National Guard supports Immediate Response 25 with partners in Croatia
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Maryland Army National Guard supports Immediate Response 25 with partners in Croatia
Wet Gap Crossing during Saber Guardian 25 Reel
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Wet Gap Crossing during Saber Guardian 25 Reel
Interview: Saber Guardian 25 – 2nd Lt. Nicolas Yepes
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Interview: Saber Guardian 25 – 2nd Lt. Nicolas Yepes
7th Engineer Brigade Conduct Wet Gap Crossing in Romania
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7th Engineer Brigade Conduct Wet Gap Crossing in Romania
U.S. Soldiers Rehearse Wet Gap Crossing Procedures during Saber Guardian 25
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2:21
U.S. Soldiers Rehearse Wet Gap Crossing Procedures during Saber Guardian 25
Reel: U.S. Soldiers Conduct Wet Gap Crossing for Saber Guardian 25
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0:29
Reel: U.S. Soldiers Conduct Wet Gap Crossing for Saber Guardian 25
B-Roll: U.S. Soldiers Conduct Wet Gap Crossing for Saber Guardian 25
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3:16
B-Roll: U.S. Soldiers Conduct Wet Gap Crossing for Saber Guardian 25
U.S. participates in multinational Live-Fire Exercise in Bulgaria during Immediate Response 25
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U.S. participates in multinational Live-Fire Exercise in Bulgaria during Immediate Response 25
12CAB Soldiers showcase apache lethality during Saber Guardian 25
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12CAB Soldiers showcase apache lethality during Saber Guardian 25
12CAB Soldiers showcase Apache lethality during Saber Guardian 25
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4:49
12CAB Soldiers showcase Apache lethality during Saber Guardian 25
REEL: U.S. Soldiers rearm and refuel AH-64 Apache helicopters in Hungary during Saber Guardian 25
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0:38
REEL: U.S. Soldiers rearm and refuel AH-64 Apache helicopters in Hungary during Saber Guardian 25
7th Engineer Brigade Conduct Limited Visibility Wet Gap Crossing
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7:38
7th Engineer Brigade Conduct Limited Visibility Wet Gap Crossing
B-roll: Immediate Response 25 - Countries showcase static displays
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2:00
B-roll: Immediate Response 25 - Countries showcase static displays
Immediate Response 25 - Live-fire exercise
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3:13
Immediate Response 25 - Live-fire exercise
7th Engineer Brigade Conduct Limited Visibility Wet Gap Crossing
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0:54
7th Engineer Brigade Conduct Limited Visibility Wet Gap Crossing
2CR Convoys Across European Theater During Saber Guardian 25
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0:32
2CR Convoys Across European Theater During Saber Guardian 25
B-roll: Immediate Response 25 with Balkan Sentinel conclude live-fire exercise
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0:53
B-roll: Immediate Response 25 with Balkan Sentinel conclude live-fire exercise
B-roll: Immediate Response 25 - Bulgarian Land Forces band welcomes Bulgarian Minister of Defense, Atanas Zaprianov
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1:08
B-roll: Immediate Response 25 - Bulgarian Land Forces band welcomes Bulgarian Minister of Defense, Atanas Zaprianov
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  • Swift Response

    FinlandItalyLatviaLithuaniaNorwaySwedenSlovenia

  • Immediate Response

    AlbaniaBulgariaCroatiaGreeceKosovoMontenegroNorth MacedoniaSlovakia

  • Saber Guardian

    CzechiaGermanyHungaryRomaniaSlovakia

Press Information
Defender News

enlightenedTo find information about filing a claim related to exercise DEFENDER activities, visit Claims Information and select your country.