Local defence exercises

The Army will be training local defence across Finland 2-9 September 2022. The exercises will improve local troops’ readiness to carry out local combat and protection tasks and strengthen the authorities’ abilities to cooperate in situations of disruption everywhere in the country. 

The series of exercises directed by the Army Command will include six exercises in different parts of the country. Approximately 6000 persons from the Defence Forces will take part in the exercises. In addition to the Defence Forces’ reservists, conscripts and regular personnel, officials of cities, police, rescue services and the social affairs and health sector, actors in voluntary national defence as well as companies in the industry and energy sectors will be involved in the exercises.

Local defence measures will be exercised in all of Finland. The local defence exercises will be recognisable in inhabited built-up areas with a high number of military vehicles on the move. Some of the exercises will involve flight operation activity. The training audience units will use blank ammunition that do not pose any threat to bystanders but will cause some noise.