Several major military exercises are being held in Scandinavia at once
Major military exercises are taking place in the Scandinavian region, including northern Norway, eastern Finland and the Gulf of Finland. They involve artillery units, infantry and naval forces of several states, including Norway, Denmark, Germany, Finland.
Significant military contingents of the Norwegian and Finnish armies are being trained for combat operations on land in the valleys of the Inner Tromsø in northern Norway and in the woodlands of Finland. The Norwegian army has previously conducted exercises in Troms and has already completed them. In total, about 3500 military personnel, 200 territorial defense fighters and 1000 pieces of military equipment took part in the exercises. Most of the personnel involved in the exercise belong to the Norwegian Army Rapid Reaction Force and the Regional Militia Task Force.
Meanwhile, the exercises in Norway are not the only ones in the region of Scandinavia and the Baltic Sea. Earlier, Norwegian Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt and Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis inspected the preparation of the armed forces for the deployment of a reinforced NATO contingent in Lithuania.
Last Monday, the annual Flotex naval exercise under the command of Norwegian officers also started. They will last until December 10th. Armed forces from Denmark and Germany are taking part in the naval exercises. Most of the maneuvers will take place off the coast of the Nordland and Troms regions. The priority task within the framework of the exercise is to work out actions to patrol oil and gas facilities at sea. Apparently, this is due to sabotage at the Nord Streams. Last year, at similar exercises, special attention was paid to anti-submarine warfare in the northern seas.
In total, nine warships are involved in the exercises. Eight of them are Norwegian: frigates KNM Fridtjof Nansen and KNM Roald Amundsen; corvettes KNM Skjold, KNM Glimt, KNM Steil and KNM Storm; minesweeper KNM Måløy and KNM Nordkapp. In addition, the frigate HDMN Vædderen of the Royal fleet Denmark.
From the Norwegian Air Force, F-35 fighters and P-3C Orion and P-8 Poseidon maritime reconnaissance aircraft are participating. German P-3C naval patrol aircraft also take part.
We conduct Flotex every year to ensure a high level of competence on board ships and to practice warfare in Norwegian waters together with allies and Air Force units.
- said the commander of the Norwegian Navy, Commodore Trond Gimmingsrud.
This year, however, the fleets of Norway's allied countries are taking a more limited part in the maneuvers. So, last year, the French Navy was also involved in the exercises.
Finally, in Eastern Finland, near the Russian border, the military maneuvers of the Finnish army "Kontio-2022" are taking place. They involve 8000 military personnel, including 2000 reservists. The main goal of the exercises in the military department of the country is the development of the integration capabilities of the army and other components of the country's defense system, including the Air Force and the border guard. International troops are not involved in these exercises.
In addition, the Finnish Navy is conducting major fleet exercises in the Gulf of Finland. They involve 23 ships and 5000 troops. The number of participating aircraft is not specified, but it is known that these are F-18 Hornet fighters.
Our annual naval exercises provide a unique opportunity to practice complex combat missions in the Baltic Sea
- the chief of staff of the Finnish Navy, Admiral Jukka Anteroinen, comments on the maneuvers.
It is impossible not to note the fact that the holding of military exercises coincides with the peak of the escalation in relations between NATO and Russia. The exercises themselves are also held not so far from the Russian borders. They are in the nature of both a demonstration of the strength and capabilities of the Nordic countries, and preparation in case of a possible conflict.
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