In northern Germany, thousands of troops from more than a dozen NATO countries gathered for the large-scale exercise Steadfast Dart 2026. What makes this exercise special is not only the number of participating countries, but above all the scale and character of the deployment. For the first time, NATO’s spearhead force, the so-called Very High Readiness Joint Task Force, was fully deployed in Europe in a realistic exercise scenario.
The deployment included warships, fighter jets, armoured infantry and support units from thirteen countries. Italy, Greece, Germany, the Czech Republic, Spain, Lithuania, Estonia and Turkey provided core capabilities, with additional support from France, Belgium, Poland, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands.
From symbolic exercises to large-scale deployment
A few years ago, many NATO exercises involved a few thousand troops. Steadfast Dart 2026 shows a clear shift. It now involves 10,000 troops or more, with full brigade structures, heavy logistics and integrated air and naval forces.
That increase in scale is no coincidence. The war in Ukraine has shown that modern warfare revolves around mass, endurance and industrial capacity. Both Russia and Ukraine now have more than a million troops under arms. Front lines of hundreds of kilometres are pounded daily with artillery, drones and missiles.
NATO has visibly incorporated those lessons into its exercise concepts. It is no longer only about high-tech capabilities, but also about numbers, staying power and rapid movement of large units.
The spearhead force tested under realistic conditions
The Very High Readiness Joint Task Force is meant to be deployable within days in a crisis on the alliance’s eastern flank. During Steadfast Dart 2026, it was tested whether these units can actually be moved, integrated and made operational quickly in a complex scenario.
That means not only combat drills, but also logistics stress tests. How fast can tanks be moved by rail? How are ammunition stocks replenished? How does command and control work when several countries operate at the same time?
That last point is crucial. Multinational operations require standardised communications, shared digital systems and interoperable weapon systems. Units from southern Europe, the Baltic states and western Europe must be able to act as one.
The eastern flank remains a priority
Although the exercise took place in northern Germany, the strategic message is clearly aimed at the eastern flank. Lithuania and Estonia, both bordering Russia, made active contributions. Poland and Germany play a key role as the logistics link between western Europe and the Baltic states.
Since 2022, NATO has significantly expanded its presence in eastern Europe. Battlegroups have been upgraded to brigade level and work is under way on larger forward storage of equipment. The goal is clear: deterrence through visible readiness.
Bigger armies, but recruitment remains a challenge
The political ambition to enlarge armies is outspoken, but implementation is slower. Many European countries face personnel shortages. While Ukraine and Russia have expanded their armed forces enormously in a short time, Western countries are struggling with recruiting and retaining personnel.
That is why the emphasis is not only on numbers, but also on rapid mobilisation and reserve structures. Countries are investing in expanding training capacity, reactivating storage depots and increasing ammunition production.
Steadfast Dart 2026 is therefore not only a military exercise, but also a signal that NATO is preparing for prolonged large-scale conflicts, should that ever be necessary.
From expeditionary to territorial defence
For years, the focus of many NATO countries was on missions far from home, such as Afghanistan and Iraq. Small, professional units were deployed for stabilisation operations. Now the emphasis is shifting back to territorial defence of Europe itself.
That requires different structures. More heavy brigades, more artillery, more air defence and above all more logistics. Exercises such as Steadfast Dart 2026 show that this shift is under way.
The message is clear: where a few years ago it was about thousands of troops in relatively limited scenarios, we now see large-scale, multi-domain exercises involving tens of thousands. NATO is demonstrably trying to learn from the reality in Ukraine.
Whether that is enough to guarantee credible deterrence will depend on political perseverance, industrial scaling-up and real growth in personnel. But one thing is clear: the era of small-scale symbolic exercises seems to be over.
