STRONG IMPACT 25: Artillery in Action
Between March 17 and 21, 2025, the Santa Margarida Military Camp in Constância, Portugal, hosted the “STRONG IMPACT 25” multinational military exercise. This exercise brought together nearly 500 military personnel from Portugal, Spain and France, with the aim of training and improving field artillery and anti-aircraft capabilities when employed in high-intensity operations, as well as strengthening interoperability between allied forces.
National and international participation
The exercise saw the participation of various units from the Operational Component of the Portuguese Army's Force System, including:
- 15.5 Self-Propelled Field Artillery Group (Grupo de Artilharia de Campanha - GAC 15.5 AP) of the Mechanized Brigade (Brigada Mecanizada - BrigMec), equipped with 155 mm M109A5 self-propelled howitzers;
- 10.5 Towed Field Artillery Group (Grupo de Artilharia de Campanha - GAC 10.5 Reb) of the Rapid Reaction Brigade (Brigada de Reação Rápida - BrigRR), operating 105 mm M119 Light Gun howitzers;
- Mortar units from the Azores and Madeira.
In addition to the Portuguese forces, the international contributions stood out.
- Grupo de Artillería de Campaña XI from the “Extremadura” XI Brigade of the Spanish Ejército de Tierra;
- Forces from the 68e Régiment d'Artillerie of the French Armée de Terre.
The presence of allied forces enriched the joint experience and strengthened international cooperation ties.
Technical and Operational Components
During three intensive days, the artillerymen tested the limits of their operational capabilities, carrying out live-fire sessions that demonstrated the efficiency and precision of the forces involved, the excellence of the training and the high readiness to face future challenges.
During the live-fire sessions, 155 mm M109A5 howitzers, M119 Light Gun howitzers and mortars were fired, hitting targets approximately three kilometers away.
There was also the participation of a pair of F-16 fighters from the Portuguese Air Force, with the Close Air Support mission, which provided an additional dimension to the exercise, allowing coordination between ground and air forces. These fighters were supported by Tactical Air Control Party (TACP) elements.
Strategic Importance and International Cooperation
STRONG IMPACT 25 underlines the importance of international cooperation in the military field, allowing the armed forces of the participating countries to share knowledge and experiences. This type of exercise is fundamental to ensuring the readiness and effectiveness of troops, guaranteeing that they are prepared to respond to various operational situations.
In short, STRONG IMPACT 25 stood out as a significant milestone in the collaboration between Portugal, Spain and France, strengthening the joint response capacity and interoperability of their armed forces. The unity demonstrated in each mission and the strength shown in each shot are testimony to the ongoing commitment to collective security and defense.
