International artillery exercise Lightning Strike 24 has begun in Lapland

The exercise will affect the traffic especially in the surroundings of the Rovajärvi training area and the main roads as the troops and equipment are being transported to the exercise sites. Lightning Strike 24 is a part of the exercise series Dynamic Front 25, which is the largest NATO artillery exercise series ever conducted in Europe.

The initial stage of the exercise that started this week includes missile firing exercise of the anti-tank missile troops and assessment of the conscript units’ training level. Standardization of the Army anti-tank training and advanced training for the soldiers are also on the first week agenda. At the same time, preparation for the multinational artillery exercise is under way. The soldiers are training to create a line of information across artillery command and control systems on the Artillery System Cooperation Activities (ASCA) network and troops are being transported to the exercise sites. On 17 November, the technical training of the first two weeks will culminate with the start of artillery fires exercise, which will put the Allied forces’ joint fires to a test on a practical level. This large-scale exercise developes the Alliance’s ability to operate together and enhances the Finnish Army’s joint fires interoperability.

Before the exercise, the Finnish Defence Forces has worked together with authorities in Lapland to minimize the effects of the exercise and to streamline traffic flow. In addition to the Finnish troops, there are about 1250 soldiers from the United States, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Estonia, France and the Czech Republic participating in the exercise in the areas of Rovajärvi and Rovaniemi.
The exercise affects the traffic on roads between Rovaniemi and Kemijärvi, as well as on the march routes, 24/7.  The exercises are carried out mainly within the garrisons and the Defence Forces’ training areas. 

Marches to the exercise (8 Nov, 10-15 Nov and 20 Nov) and from the exercise (10 Nov, 20-23 Nov and 28 Nov) will occasionally increase the traffic on the main roads. The motor march units proceed at normal wintertime speed. Those on the road on the dates above are kindly requested to reserve extra driving time. For safety reasons, speed limits in the Rovajärvi area are tighter than normally during the exercise. 

Motor marches of the international Air defence exercise Mallet Strike, taking place simultaneously with Lightning Strike 24, affect the traffic mainly on 11-12 November,16 November and 20-21 November 2024. In addition, some smaller units will use the march routes at various times of day on the period 11-21 November. This will increase the amount of traffic on the roads. The motor march units proceed at normal wintertime speed

Marches to and from the exercises will affect the traffic on the following roads: