The seventh edition of the international flight exercise “European Spartan Exercise 2025“ (ESE 2025) was officially opened today, September 23, at the 22nd Air Base in Bezmer. Air force crews from Bulgaria, Italy, Spain, Greece and Lithuania will participate in it.
The international flight exercise is being held within the framework of the program agreement between C-27J aircraft operators from EU member states and will continue until October 3, 2025. For the first time, countries operating Casa C-295 aircraft will also participate.
“European Spartan Exercise“ has proven its practical and effective contribution over the years to the exchange of international experience in the implementation of a wide range of special tasks and missions by the flight crews of transport aviation“, said the commander of the 16th aviation air base in Sofia and head of ESE 2025, Colonel Lazarin Lazarov, in his address to the participants. He emphasized that all stages of the preparation, joint planning and conduct of the exercise provide a unique opportunity for the allies to improve their organizational experience and tactical skills, contributing to strengthening the trust and capabilities of coalition partners to participate in joint operations.
The Deputy Head of ESE 2025, Lieutenant Colonel Denis Innocenti, emphasized the ambition for the current exercise to become an even more dynamic training environment for the flight and engineering and technical staff with the inclusion of the Casa C-295 transport aircraft.