The national parade on the Independence Day of Finland is to be held in Lappeenranta on 6 December. The theme of the parade is National defence from generation to generation. The review of troops will take place at Kimpinen stadium, and the pass in review on Ainonkatu. The Finnish Defence Forces’ and other agencies’ equipment and activity will be on display at Satamatori square. The events are free of charge.

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 Commander of NATO’s Allied Rapid Reaction Corps (ARRC), Lieutenant General Ralph Wooddisse, and his staff participated the Army Command Exercise at the invitation of the Commander of the Finnish Army, Lieutenant General Pasi Välimäki, from 5 to 7 November 2024.

In the Army, a project is underway to develop mortar mobility by a new, modular and mobile 120mm mortar M3 weapon system.