Allied troops from ten different countries rehearse defending Finland under the command of the Finnish Army

All brigade-level units of the Army will rehearse joint operating with allied countries’ contingents in the course of May. Several exercises executed simultaneously are aimed at strengthening the Army’s defence capability across Finland, conscripts’ know-how and joint operating with Allies. During the spring, a total of approximately 19,000 allied soldiers from Finland, Estonia, Lithuania, Norway, France, United Kingdom, United States, Italy, Hungary and Poland will take part in the exercises.

Mechanised troops and unmanned systems in key roles in Southwestern Finland

This spring’s exercise activities will be launched by the Army’s mechanised exercise Mighty Arrow 26 led by the Armoured Brigade at the Pohjankangas Firing Range and Training Area in Niinisalo from 24 April to 5 May. Approximately 2,800 persons will take part in the exercise, most of them conscripts and about 350 international troops. Almost 500 vehicles will be used in the exercise, including approximately 160 tanks and armoured vehicles. In addition to Finnish troops, allied contingents form Estonia and Lithuania will also participate in the exercise.  This year, in addition to heavier equipment, several different types of drones will be operated in the exercise by national and allied troops.

Ground-based air defence units rehearse on their "own soil" together with Norwegians

The international air defence exercise Mallet Strike 1/26 will be conducted at the Lohtaja Firing Range and Training Area during 12 - 21 May. Units from the Finnish Army, Navy and Air Force will be involved in the exercise; this will be the most important exercise for ground-based air defence units. The aim of the exercise is to enhance joint operating with Allies, and international troops from Norway will be involved.  The strength of the training audience will be approximately 1900 persons.

Rock Sisu: First autonomous exercise of allied contingents in Finland

Kainuu Artillery Regiment’s exercise Northern Strike 26 and Kainuu Jaeger Battalion’s Metso 126 will launch exercise activities at the Vuosanka Firing Range and Training Area on 2 May. Metso 126 will involve the participation of units from the United Kingdom. On Monday 11 May, the portion of exercise Saber Strike 26 executed in Finland will set off in Vuosanka. It is part of the US-led Sword 26 exercise series.

Rock Sisu, the first phase of Saber Strike 26, demonstrates the development of prior cooperation; allied forces will conduct their own exercise activities without combat troops or any command echelon from Finland.  Allied troops from the United Kingdom, United States, Italy, Hungary and Poland will operate in the exercise.  Rock Sisu will be conducted at the Vuosanka Firing Range and Training Area from 11-17 May, and it will serve as a preparatory exercise for the allied troops before the combat training exercise.

Large combat training exercises will bring 4,500 soldiers to Kainuu and 10,000 soldiers to Southeast Finland

After Rock Sisu, the training audience will be reinforced with Finnish units and French units having stayed in Finland for several months already, and they will all participate in the Kainuu Brigade-led combat training exercise Northern Star 26 from 18 - 30 May. Around 4,500 soldiers from Finland, France, United Kingdom, United States, Italy, Hungary and Poland will participate in the exercise.  Northern Star 26 is the first exercise in which thousands of allied countries’ soldiers will operate together at the Vuosanka Firing Range and Training Area.

At the same time, c. 10,000 soldiers will train together in the regions of Kymeenlaakso, South Savo and South Karelia in the Karelia Brigade-led exercise Karelian Sword 26 during 18 - 29 May.  In addition to soldiers from the Finnish Defence Forces and the Border Guard, military personnel from the Virginia National Guard and the British Army’s 4th Regiment Army Air Corps combat helicopter detachment will also take part in the exercise.  The exercise will develop the know-how of conscripts and reservists, cooperation between different branches and interoperability with Allies.

Training units will be visible across Finland

Personnel from all the brigade-level units of the Army and other parts of the Finnish Defence Forces will participate in the exercises, so movement of troops will affect traffic across Finland especially when exercises start and end. Personnel and equipment of international training contingents will arrive in Finland in phases. The exercises conducted in the spring will also involve a significant amount of flight activity.

The brigade-level units will provide information about the exercises led by them in more detail before the exercises start.