NATO's BIGGEST war games in Russia's backyard

Ignoring Russia’s concerns, member nations of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation on Wednesday kick-started one of the military alliance’s biggest war games in years.

Exercise 'Steadfast Jazz' is being held in locations across Europe, including sizeable elements in Latvia, Poland and in the Baltic Sea. The exercise will certify headquarters elements of the NATO Response Force and confirm their readiness to take command of these forces in 2014.

The NATO Response Force is a highly ready and technologically advanced multinational force made up of land, air, maritime, and special operations components, that can deploy quickly wherever needed. A total of around 6,000 troops will be exercised over the next nine days in locations across Europe during the largest combined NATO exercise since 2006.

Moscow has voiced displeasure the war game, which will continue until November 9, as it is being held in Poland and the former Soviet Baltic republics

Rediff.com brings you glimpses of the war games

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Two Polish F-16's taxi during the first day of the air portion of Ex Steadfast Jazz at 31st Air Tactical Base, Poznan, Poland, on November 5, 2013

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Estonian Defence League´s mortar platoon shooting targets that are placed 1100m away at the exercise field. Platoon is equipped with 81mm mortars and they are the fire support unit for the Estonian Scoutsbatalion´s mechanized infantry company.

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Estonian mechanised infantry company's PASI APC.

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Soldiers from the Polish Military Police maneuver platoon train in the ability to search buildings effectively and safely in the Drawsko Training Area, in the vicinity of Ziemsko Camp, during exercise Steadfast Jazz 2013

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Soldiers from the Polish Military Police maneuver platoon train in the ability to search buildings effectively and safely in the Drawsko Training Area, in the vicinity of Ziemsko Camp, during exercise Steadfast Jazz 2013.

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Soldiers from the Polish Military Police maneuver platoon practice VIP protection techniques in the Drawsko Training Area, in the vicinity of Ziemsko Camp, during exercise Steadfast Jazz 2013 in Poland.

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Members of the multinational CBRN Battalion (Czech Republic, France, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia) conduct decontamination activities on a Slovakian vehicle during exercise Steadfast Jazz.

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Lithuanian mechanized company machine gunner firing. Drawsko Pomorskie training area.

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An Airborne Engineer from the 173rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), US Army Europe, executes a demolition charge during a breaching range while participating in the unit-level training preparation phase of Exercise Steadfast Jazz

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NATO allies train together during the preparation phase of Exercise Steadfast Jazz

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A Lithuanian army tactical air control party trains with multinational providers of close air support during Operation Steadfast Jazz

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A Slovenian army tactical air control party trains with multinational providers of close air support during Operation Steadfast Jazz

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A pair of airplanes cooperating together and attacking the maritime targets during the air-defense exercise with the 'big ships' at sea

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NATO allies train together during the preparation phase of Exercise Steadfast Jazz.

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The Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group One during transit to the operations area. For the duration of this exercise the Group is comprised of the command ship ORP Czernicki (Poland) and seven minehunters (Belgium, Great Britain, Estonia, Germany, Netherlands, Norway, and Poland).

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Polish SH-2G "Dragonfly" (operating from ORP Kosciuszko) conducting 'touch-and-go' training on board the flagship De Ruyter. During this trainig the pilot is landing on the flight deck and liffting-off to train the approach, communications and touch-down procedures

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Italian destroyer ITS Caio Duilio seen from the flagship -- Dutch frigate HNLMS De Ruyter during the close approaches exercises. This type of cooperation is designed to conduct replenishment at sea (fuel, water, provisions) and line transfer procedures for a small items exchange.

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Polish Army's tanks Leopard II in a defence position

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