The Exercise THRACIAN BLADE 2026 (TB26) is another sequel of the successful series of the Multinational Helicopter Exercises under the HEP module of the MHTC framework and will take place at KRUMOVO Air Base (Plovdiv) in Bulgaria from the 1st until the 19th of June 2026.

The exercise TB26 is the 1st edition of THRACIAN BLADE hosted by Bulgaria and is designed to provide an opportunity to helicopter operators from multiple European Nations to train together using common helicopter TTPs and to plan and execute complex missions in a multinational environment, in accordance with the MHTC HEP SOP.

The focus of the exercise TB26 is on enhancing the European defence capability, concentrating on Rotary Wing operations, in a Multinational environment, where aircrews, can train and further develop skills, in the proper and effective use of own weapon systems, and to enhance interoperability at the tactical level between rotarywing as well as fixed-wing aviation units by using

a COMAO concept in a realistic and challenging joint and combined scenario, combining land and air operations including the use of EW threat simulators / emulators and real assets. Missions will contain a wide spectrum of realistic and live training objectives, including Air Assault (AA), Attack, Aeromedical Evacuation (AE), andSpecial Recce, NOE flights, live-firing, counter airdefence TTPs including actions of Ground Forces and Special Operations Forces (SOF).