Finland Will Conduct its First Naval Military Exercises as a NATO Member

Finland is launching its first naval exercise as a member of the North Atlantic Alliance. The exercises will be led by the Finnish Navy and will run from 20 November to 1 December. 

This is stated on the official website of the Finnish Navy.

According to the report, in addition to the Navy, units of the Finnish Army and Air Force will take part in the exercise.  The Swedish Navy will also join the exercise.

"Our this autumn’s main exercise is the first one that we will execute as a large NATO exercise in which also our Swedish partners will be strongly involved.  By training together, we will not only strengthen military capabilities, but also interoperability and our ability to work together," noted Captain (N) Juhapekka Rautava, the commander of the exercises.

The exercises will involve ships from the NATO Standing Maritime Group 1 (NMG1), consisting of three vessels from Germany and the Netherlands, as well as the NATO Standing Mine Countermeasures Group 1 (SNMCMG1), which includes seven ships from Poland, Germany, the Netherlands and France.

Additionally, the training will include US Marine Corps 2nd Marine Logistics Group and the amphibious ship RFA Mounts Bay of the Royal Navy of the United Kingdom, along with a UK Marine detachment.

In total, around 30 combat ships, service, and auxiliary vessels will participate in the exercises, and the total number of participants will exceed 4,000 individuals. 

The NATO alliance members will contribute 16 aircraft, including a squadron of multi-role fighters F/A-18 from the U.S. Marine Corps, the French maritime patrol aircraft Atlantique 2, and the maritime operational helicopters of SNMG1.

Earlier, The Gaze reported that for the first time in history, the largest aircraft carrier of the Royal Navy of the United Kingdom, HMS Queen Elizabeth, conducted the "Neptune Strike" exercise under the NATO command.

"Deterrence and defence of the Euro Atlantic is at the heart of NATO, and our enhanced vigilance activity with Neptune Strike is a clear demonstration of that. This is the first time a UK Carrier Strike Group has been commanded by NATO in my memory, so this is momentous for the UK and the alliance," emphasized  Commodore James Blackmore, Commander of the UK’s Carrier Strike Group. 

In total, naval vessels from 21 countries participated in the maritime exercises.