Print this article As the Army looks to preserve its budget and advance modernization priorities in the Indo-Pacific region, it tested firing rockets at targets from long distances during exercises near Russia on Wednesday amid tensions with the Kremlin. The Defender Europe exercises taking place across 13 training areas with 28 NATO partners and allies are defensive in nature and practice a range of capabilities over six weeks. In Estonia this week, Army units from the United States, Estonia, and the United Kingdom practiced firing artillery rockets with ranges up to 300 miles. Meanwhile, before Congress, Army leadership was making the case for preserving its budget so that it can adjust to a region more fit for the Navy and Air Force and acquire the capability to fire hypersonic missiles over thousands of miles.