From November 6 through November 9, U.S. and German troops are practicing fires from short- and long-range air defense platforms at the NATO Missile Firing Installation on the Greek island of Crete as part of the German-led Artemis Strike 2017 exercise. In addition to two Patriot batteries from the Baumholder, Germany-based 5th battalion, 7th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, troops will fire missiles from the Avenger Air Defense System and Stinger MANPAD system. In total, troops will fire about 100 Patriot and Stinger missiles in the exercise. “Providing mission command capabilities for subordinate air and missile defense forces helps bolster readiness and the ability to integrate assets with allies and partners at multiple levels,” said U.S. Army Europe in a statement on the exercise.