The Irish Defence Forces have successfully concluded their participation in the European Union’s third Military Exercise (MilEx), held from 25 March to 10 April 2025 at Pápa Airbase and the Bakony Training Area in Hungary. This large-scale, multinational exercise is a core component of the EU’s ongoing effort to develop its Rapid Deployment Capacity (EU RDC), ensuring swift and coordinated crisis response capabilities under the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP).
A total of 850 personnel from 13 EU Member States took part in the exercise, including 139 members of the Irish Defence Forces. The aim of MilEx 2025 was to test and improve interoperability across all levels of military operations—strategic, operational, and tactical—while enhancing the EU’s ability to plan, coordinate, and execute a standalone crisis management operation.
Ireland’s Operational Contribution
The Irish Defence Forces made a substantial and meaningful contribution to MilEx 2025, deploying staff officers, operational planners, logistics specialists, and force protection personnel. Irish troops were embedded within the Force Headquarters (FHQ) at Pápa Air Base and also took part in field operations with the German-led EU Battlegroup 2025 (EUBG25) at the Bakony Training Area.
Irish personnel played pivotal roles in mission planning, command and control, situational awareness, logistics coordination, communications, and security. Their integration into the multinational command structure highlighted not only Ireland’s professional military capabilities but also its growing role as a reliable and valued contributor to EU security and defence cooperation.
Logistical Coordination and Strategic Mobility
A significant component of Ireland’s involvement in MilEx 2025 was the successful deployment of Defence Forces equipment and vehicles from Pfungstadt, Germany, to Pápa Airbase, Hungary, using European rail transport. This marked a key milestone in strategic military mobility for Ireland and demonstrated the Defence Forces’ ability to operate as part of a multinational logistical chain.
The movement included heavy transport vehicles and essential support equipment required for Irish troops operating in both headquarters and tactical environments. This complex operation, coordinated in collaboration with EU and host nation partners, showcased Ireland’s logistical proficiency and its capacity to integrate into EU-wide mobility frameworks—an essential enabler of future rapid deployment missions under the EU RDC concept.
Reception, Staging, and Onward Movement (RSOM) Demonstration
MilEx 2025 was specifically designed to test and demonstrate the Reception, Staging, and Onward Movement (RSOM) process—a cornerstone of modern rapid response operations. RSOM refers to the systematic sequence through which incoming multinational forces are received in-theatre, staged and supported logistically, and then moved forward to their operational positions. This year’s RSOM demonstration featured live coordination of EUROCORPS’ Forward Headquarters, deployment of combat and support vehicles from EUBG25, and participation from all 13 contributing nations including Ireland.
The RSOM phase ensured that all units were properly briefed, equipped, and operationally aligned before deployment, reinforcing the EU’s ability to respond quickly and cohesively to emerging crises. Irish troops participated in both the logistical coordination and operational readiness phases, with Irish vehicles and personnel playing visible roles in the staging areas and onward movement drills.
