Operational Background
The Galileo SAR Meet was established to address the growing complexity of SAR operations in modern environments, and the need for standardized procedures across NATO and European Union member states. The primary aim was to facilitate learning opportunities where participating units could share tactics, techniques and procedures (TTPs) and experiences across the SAR community to make SAR operations safer, faster and more efficient.
The 2025 edition marked a significant milestone, as it was the first major international SAR exercise hosted by the Czech Air Force. The two-year operational gap was attributed to various factors including competing operational commitments, resource allocation constraints across participating nations, and the global impact of pandemic-related restrictions on international military exercises.
The selection of Prague-Kbely Air Base as the host facility was strategically significant for multiple reasons. It is a military airport located in Kbely, in the northeast municipal district of Prague, Czech Republic. Once Prague’s principal civilian airport, it is now used mainly as a military base for the Czech Air Force. The facility’s historical significance, established infrastructure, and current operational capacity made it an ideal venue for hosting complex international helicopter operations requiring sustained logistical support.
Host Nation Capabilities
The 243rd Squadron, serving as the primary host unit, operates from one of the Czech Republic’s two designated SAR bases. The Air Transportation Base at Prague-Kbely is utilized for air transport of personnel and material within the Czech Republic and abroad. In addition to military related transport activities, it has been used as a base for transporting Czech constitutional representatives since 1993. The facility also carries out air movements of human transplant organs and contributes to the Czech Integrated Rescue System, providing operational contexts for exercise scenarios. The base’s strategic proximity to Prague allows easy access to urban SAR training scenarios while maintaining appropriate operational security measures throughout the exercise period.
The Czech Air Force’s SAR capabilities are augmented by the base’s dual-role functionality in VIP transport and medical emergency operations. While Kbely Airfield is no longer used as a front-line Czech Air Force base, it is actively utilized by military transport aircraft and the VIP aircraft fleet that transports Czech politicians and government officials.
Exercise Structure and Operational Framework
SAR Meet 2025 was structured around two primary operational components designed to test different aspects of SAR capabilities across participating units. The two main parts of the
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