Forty-nine Boeing CH-47F Chinooks and Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawks have made their way to Germany, the U.S. European Command said. The helicopters, along with other trucks and support equipment from the 10th Combat Aviation Brigade, are beginning a nine-month rotation in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve. The equipment-carrying ship arrived in the Port of Bremerhaven, Germany, Feb. 11. Twenty more helicopters are set to arrive next week.

“The arrival of the 10th Combat [Aviation] Brigade adds to our highly capable joint team,” said Army Gen. Curtis M. Scaparrotti, commander of U.S. European Command. “This deployment is another great opportunity to strengthen strategic partnerships with our NATO allies and to build together our capacity, capability and interoperability.”

U.S. European Command said that this nine-month rotation would see the equipment delivered to bases throughout Eastern Europe to train with NATO partners. Soldiers are to perform medical transport and aviation operations to improve interoperability and strengthen relationships within NATO. Operation Atlantic Resolve was created in April 2014 as a response to tensions between Russia and Ukraine.

Some news outlets have reported that close to 100 helicopters, including Boeing Apaches, were sent to the German port — some assigned to rotating stints in Lithuania and Romania.