Finland is hosting a large-scale international exercises with NATO Allies on land and in the air, as it adapts to its status as a full NATO member.
Finland has hosted several international exercises both on land and in the air as the country adapts to its status as a NATO member. It joined the 30-member Western defensive alliance in April.
Exercises Lightning Strike and Northern Forest took place at the Rovajärvi exercise area in northern Finland. The exercises develop joint fire and combat operations between Finnish Defence Forces, Allied forces, and Sweden.
The total number of participating troops is approximately 8,000, with 7,000 from Finland and 1,000 from other NATO countries and Sweden.
Meanwhile, nearby in Rovaniemi Air Base, Finland hosted part of exercise Arctic Challenge, one of Europe’s largest air exercises. Featuring Mirage and Rafale aircraft from France and Eurofighters from Germany as well as Finnish F/A-18 Hornets, the exercise helps NATO Allies improve the interoperability of their air assets.
Col. Janne Makitalo, Chief of the Army Academy, Finland said: “The main essence of our defense system and the extra value for NATO is concerning our army and capabilities to fight a long-lasting warfare in deep, deep area. Many of the NATO countries don’t necessarily have this kind of capability but we do have.”
Lt. Col. Jaakko Salomaki ‘Avarell’, Chief of Operations, Lapland Air Command said: “We’ve been doing this for years already. It’s about joint air operations and behind that there are many things including the interoperability and connectivity and things like that. It’s about doing the same thing in the same way to be effective together.
Lt. Col. Salomaki added: “The more we train and plan together the stronger we get, so we are really proud to be part of the NATO and glad to have partners training here together with us. For example in this air combat Arctic Challenge exercise.”
