Finland will host NATO’s Lightning Strike 24 artillery exercises in Finnish Lapland from November 4 to 28, 2024, marking the country’s first time hosting a major NATO drill since joining the alliance in 2023.
This large-scale exercise, part of a series of US-led military drills across Europe, is seen as a significant step in strengthening Finland’s role within NATO and enhancing its defense capabilities amidst growing geopolitical tensions in Europe.
This upcoming November will be Finland’s first time hosting a major NATO exercise since joining the alliance in 2023. More than 5,000 troops from 28 nations, including Brazil, France, Germany, Italy, and Turkey, will take part across multiple countries. With the participation of 3,600 personnel, including 1,250 international troops, the artillery drills are being touted as NATO’s largest-ever of its kind in Europe.
The 56th Artillery Command’s Major General John Rafferty commented: “We are particularly excited that Finland is hosting Dynamic Front for the first time… This exercise will stretch from Finland to Romania, involving artillery, air, and naval gunfire with over 130 different weapon systems”.
The exercises coincide with shifting military dynamics in Europe, as Finland’s Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen warned of growing “war fatigue” among Western countries amid ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.
A core objective of Lightning Strike 24 is to improve Finland’s joint fire interoperability with NATO allies. The exercise will focus on command and control, logistics, and the sharing of situational awareness, with artillery units operating across multiple territories.
“Finland already has a good level of interoperability within NATO, and this exercise will further enhance it”, said the exercise’s director colonel Mäkitalo. Increased military traffic, particularly at night, will affect services in the Rovaniemi-Kemijärvi area, where the drills will be held.
“Rovajärvi, the largest firing range in Northern Europe, provides an excellent setting for long-range fire exercises. We are thrilled to execute Lightning Strike 24 as part of a broader development framework”, said Colonel Janne Mäkitalo, director of Lightning Strike 24.
Alongside the artillery drills, an air defense exercise, ADEX 2/24 Mallet Strike, will take place at the Lohtaja Firing Range, involving 1,300 soldiers between November 12 and 21.