'Iron Hail 2026' exercise in Slovenia
The training activity involved the 14th Howitzer Battery of the 3rd Mountain Artillery Regiment
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Iron Hail 2026, the Slovenian Army's premier annual artillery indirect fire exercise, concluded at the Postojna training area in Slovenia, with participation from the 14th Howitzer Battery of the Italian Army's 3rd Mountain Artillery Regiment.
The exercise brought together units from the Slovenian 72nd Brigade, national air assets, and the Italian contingent in a series of daytime and nighttime live-fire drills involving 60 mm and 120 mm mortars, Slovenian 155 mm howitzers, and Italian 105 mm artillery systems.
The training also included integrated close air support (CAS) and suppression of enemy air defenses (SEAD) missions, with Italian and Slovenian forward observers alternating in the coordination of artillery fire for their respective batteries.
All photos credit: creative commons - images made available under license CC-BY-NC-SA 3.0 IT
Operations in Poček training area also featured the use of remotely piloted drones in support of reconnaissance and target acquisition tasks. Italian personnel deployed the “Radon X” and “Xenon” unmanned aerial systems, underscoring the growing role of remotely piloted capabilities in modern operational environments, particularly in surveillance and targeting missions. These systems provide commanders with enhanced situational awareness and faster decision-making cycles.
The exercise further enhanced interoperability between Italian and Slovenian forces and strengthened cooperation within the framework of the Multinational Land Force (MLF), the Italian-led multinational formation comprising Italy, Slovenia, and Hungary. The 3rd Mountain Artillery Regiment is assigned to the Julia Alpine Brigade, which represents Italy's primary contribution to the MLF.
All photos credit: creative commons - images made available under license CC-BY-NC-SA 3.0 IT
For more information please visit:
https://www.esercito.difesa.it
