(VOVworld) – The US said Tuesday it has launched the biggest allied airborne drills in Europe since the Cold War ended amid escalated tensions between the West and Russia over the Ukraine crisis.

A NATO soldier stands guard under the wing of a C-130 Hercules aircraft (Photo: AP)

Nearly 5,000 troops from 11 NATO allies are taking part in exercises in 4 weeks of “simultaneous multinational airborne operations” across Germany, Italy, Bulgaria and Romania. The US army said the highlight of the drills will take place next Wednesday when allied warplanes will drop more than 1,000 paratroopers and equipment to the Hohenfels training area in Germany. A similar drill will take place the same day at the Novo Selo training area in Bulgaria. The US Army said the exercises are designed to help allied “high-readiness forces” act as one and “demonstrate the alliance’s capacity to rapidly deploy and operate in support of a strong and secure Europe.”