26 – 27 September 2023 • InterContinental Hotel, Warsaw, Poland

Modernising Armoured
Vehicle Training
Interview with
Brigadier General Daniel POP
15th Mech Bde Commander (OF6)
- Head of Training and Doctrine Directorate
Modernising Armoured Vehicle Training
Interview with Brigadier General Daniel Pop | 15th Mech Bde Commander (OF6)

Brigadier General Daniel Pop was born in 1971 in Dej, Cluj County, Romania. He started his military
career in 1985, attending Military High School “Ştefan cel Mare” in Câmpulung Moldovenesc, where he
graduated in 1989. He continued his military studies at the “Nicolae Bălcescu” Infantry, Border Guards
and Chemistry Military Institute, in Sibiu, graduating in 1992 as an Infantry Officer.
From January to August 2015, Brigadier General Pop deployed to Kabul, Afghanistan, this time as the Chief of the
Romanian Army Institutional Advisory Team. Upon his return he was appointed Commander of the 32nd Battalion” Mircea”
Reconnaissance and Surveillance, in Timisoara. Brigade General Pop was promoted to Colonel rank in March 2016.

In October 2017, Brigadier General Pop was appointed as the Deputy Commander Multinational Brigade South-East,
NATO’s newest Brigade Headquarters located in Craiova.

In December 2020, Brigadier General Pop was assigned as 15th Mech Bde Commander (OF6) located in town of IASI.

The officer was appointed as Commandant of ROU National Defense University in 2022 and since 1st of November
appointed as Head of Training and Doctrine Directorate, ROU General Defense Staff.

What are the current priorities for mechanised training?
Nowadays, ROU priorities infer from risks and threats
pertaining to geopolitical and geographical its position and are
reshaped by LL of Ukrainian fight against unprovoked Russia’s
aggression and are based on accelerated endowing process
for all components belonging to mechanised units. For sure,
new technical assets require a lot of doctrines and manuals
to be updated fact that came along with an intensive training
campaign, in order to maintain and improve the ROU Mech
units’ readiness level.
Furthermore, the structural adaptation of the forces will be
necessary so that the available capabilities to be remotely
operated either by the staff or designed structures as
appropriate to the equipment characteristics (e.g. PIRANHA 5
crew members, MBT, UAS operating teams, etc.). Having in mind
this fact, we are focused to fulfill the NATO standards, such as:
Minimum Capabilities Requirements (MCR 20), Target capabilities
(TC 21) and Bi-SC Capability codes and capability statements.
Based on the fight powers capabilities pertaining to the new
system have arisen new ways of engaging our mechanised
units, not merely during the conflict period but also during the
crises or within DDA (Defense and Deterrence Activities) for a
better management of our AOR.
Performing C2 (Command and Control) in a very crowded
electromagnetic environment, this is more than a priority, it
is a necessity at all levels of command throughout squad to
brigade level.
Recovery and resupply for a wide range of technical
capabilities require time and should be planned in a manner
of maintaining the tempo of operations. Troops actions
supported by fires of fighting vehicles could not be jeopardize
by lack of ammunitions or spare parts due to a pretty long
logistic line.
Eventually, our priorities embed reshaping our mechanised
units in accordance with NATO requirements, the development
of the major endowment programs and they are tested within
an increased number of multinational exercises with our allies
and partners.
With the advent of the Ukrainian War, has there been
any changes in operational readiness or tempo for the
Romanian Land Forces? Has there been rethink in terms of
strategy and doctrine?
Following the war in Ukraine, NATO has adapted its doctrines to
achieve an adequate reaction capacity against possible threats
from Russia. In according with DDA NATO concept, this is based
on four tenets: Force Organization, Force Management, C2 and
Alert System. The Romanian Armed Forces have already adapted
its plans and operational readiness in order to enhance the
alliance ability to respond gradually and firmly to any adversary
threats on Romanian territory. Moreover, the Romanian Army
will permanently integrate national planning and operational
readiness into the NATO future designated structures.
In parallel with these conceptual and operational transformation,
Romanian Armed Forces must be permanently prepared
for implementing new strategies developed by NATO and
maintaining a proactive mindset with the reference to DOTMILPF
(Doctrine, Organization, Training, Materiel, Leadership and
education, Personnel, and Facilities) requirements.
Modernising Armoured Vehicle Training
Interview with Brigadier General Daniel Pop | 15th Mech Bde Commander (OF6)

Where can industry better improve armored vehicle What we intent

We still try to integrate at all levels the proper steps for TOA
training? Where do you think, industry could improve to (Transfer of Authority) between national JFC HQ (Joint Force
better suit the needs of the directorate? Command Headquarter) and NATO multinational HQs as MNC
SE (Multinational Corps South-East), MND SE (Multinational
Taking into consideration the current security environment
Division South-East), and MNBDE SE (Multinational Brigade
which is full of challenges, industry could improve mostly in
South-East), in order to have an effective transfer of
providing the advanced infrastructure for training, based on
knowledges data base alongside with a good integration and
VR (Virtual Reality), AI (Artificial Intelligence) both located in
cooperation of forces in the field.
training centers or deployable, and Real Like Assets (using
principle Train as you fight). Embedded training system into
armored vehicle is also one element that can improve both
training process and related costs. Real simulations using duly With Armoured Vehicles Eastern Armour on the horizon,
recorded systems could be one solution in order to shrink the what sort of conversations would provide value to your
costs of training.
presence?
Being part of the exercise planning staff, industry
representatives could identify alongside with the users of 1. Mitigation of thermal and electronic footprint it is one of
assets a plenty of issues and to figure out solutions for almost the most challenge encountered by mechanised troops in
of them sometimes directly on the spot. A good simulation for this very complex environment.
indoor / outdoor training on each platoon formation based on, 2. 
Thermal camouflage alongside with significant changes
is the key for reaching time and correction during the training, for TTP (Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures), is a
saving in this way the technical platform resources that could compulsory enduring that should cater for the Mech units
be valuable in a complex exercise. needs in the future conflicts.
3. A good leverage among cost of production, efficiency,
rapid recovery or replacement should be acquire in the
Romania’s military modernization is expected to short time future because these platforms are more costly
compliment the expanded NATO defensive contingent in day by day and barely provided and the counter measures
are cheaper and cheaper. ( to be seen urban fight and LL
Romania, what does this entail for training and doctrine? from Afghanistan)
What we had
Romania has been striving to improve ability to work
with NATO since its first multinational activity under PfP
(Partnership for Peace) umbrella and as NATO country later.
The key element always was “interoperability” at all levels
(tactical, operational, strategic) and at all layers: technical,
procedural, human, and information.
What we do
As a matter of course, keeping up the peace with these new
environment changes and challenges, we have evolved
within entire military system a very rapidly modernization
and adaptation endowing based on DOTMILPF requirements.
All of them were sorted up with ETEE NATO guidance (NATO
Education, Training, Exercises, and Evaluation), multinational
contingents deployed program for south east flank, and
involvement in terms of regional defense plans.
 ELEVATING ARMOURED
VEHICLE CAPABILITIES
ALONG NATO’S EASTERN FLANK
26 – 27 September 2023
InterContinental Hotel, Warsaw, Poland
2023 SPEAKERS
Conference Chairman

General (Rtd) Jarosław Mika Major General Roman Urbanč Brigadier General Piotr Żurawski
Former General Commander Force Commander Principal Military Advisor to General
Branches (2017–2023) Slovenian Armed Forces Commander
Polish Armed Forces Polish Armed Forces

Mr Piotr Kisiel Brigadier General Juha-Matti Ylitalo, Brigadier General Gabriel Turculeţ
President Chairman Commander 282nd Armoured Brigade
Rosomak S.A. Common Armoured Vehicle System Romanian Land Forces
(CAVS) and NORDEFCO

Brigadier General Petr Milčický Colonel Adrian Efros Colonel Juhana Skyttä
Forces Development Division Director Head of J4 Logistics Directorate Infantry Inspector, Army Command
Czech Armed Forces National Army General Staff of the Finnish Army
Republic of Moldova

Lieutenant Colonel Arvis Zile Captain Jakub Murček Magnus-Valdemar Saar

Head of Combat Support Branch, Joint Head senior officer, Land Forces Director General
HQ Development Department, Section Estonian Centre for Defence
Latvian Army of Modernisation Investment
Ministry of Slovak Republic

Mr Mario Blokken Senior Representative General Officer

Director of the Permanent Secretariat 1* General V Corps Poland
Finabel - European Army Swedish Armed Forces US Army
Interoperability Centre

REGISTER DOWNLOAD
NOW Senior Representative
AGENDA
G-3 Division
U.S. Army Europe and Africa