Thousands of Norwegian and allied soldiers are currently training together to defend the Nordic region in the “Nordic Response” exercise. Soldiers from 13 countries participate in the exercise from Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Great Britain, Sweden, Germany and the USA. The police therefore take the fact that four people flew a drone illegally in Bjerkvik on Saturday 9 March very seriously. Have been extra vigilant – Today at At 0856, the police came across 4 foreign nationals who were operating illegal drone flights in Ofoten, says operations manager May-Wenche Hansen in the police in Nordland. In connection with the Nordic Response 2024 military exercise, the police have been extra vigilant. – The 4 have been arrested by the police. The drones have been seized. The police want, based on the background of the investigation per now not to say what nationality the arrested have. The police are working to secure evidence and will open a case on the matter. Over 20,000 soldiers from 13 countries are taking part in the exercise Nordic Response 2024. Photo: Synne Nilsson / The Swedish Armed Forces PST has been briefed on the matter. – We are routinely informed about the matter. So we are familiar with it, but local police are handling the case now, says communications director Trond Hugubakken in PST to news. Restrictions in the air Large areas in northern Norway have been given extra strict rules for the use of drones and other aircraft during military exercises. The Norwegian Defense Forces states on its website that areas in Nord-Troms and Finnmark in particular have special restricted areas that apply throughout the exercise from 4 March to 15 March. In the air, over 100 combat aircraft, transport aircraft, maritime surveillance aircraft and allied CH43 Super Stallion, Merlin, Cobra and Osprey participate in the exercise Nordic Response 2024. Photo: CANSOFCOM / Forsvaret But the area at Bjerkvik also has restrictions for periods while the exercise lasts. In the systems that share information with pilots and drone operators, the Norwegian Armed Forces have announced that the area around Narvik is used for military exercises several times a day. Then it is not allowed to fly drones without approval from the military airspace control at the Armed Forces’ operational headquarters. – We take all illegal drone flying very seriously, says Jonny Karlsen, spokesperson at the Norwegian Armed Forces’ operational headquarters (FOH). He says that this does not go beyond the Nordic Response exercise in any way. – As of now, we do not have any special practice activities in that area, he says. Currently, according to the spokesperson, most of the activity takes place in Finnmark. The day before the big exercise, Sunday 10 March, the “Massive Amphibious Beach Assault” exercise will take place approximately 30 miles from where the foreign drone pilots were apprehended. There, forces from Italy and the US will carry out a beach attack at Baddern in Kvænangen municipality in Troms. On 10 March, the exercise “Massive Amphibious Beach Assault” will take place at Baddern in Kvænangen municipality in Troms. Photo: Johanne Søstuen / The Armed Forces There will also be forces from Spain, France, Finland and Sweden. In addition to around 10,000 ground troops, there are around 100 different aircraft in operation during the large exercise “Nordic Response”. There is particularly great activity at sea with over 50 registered submarines, frigates, corvettes, aircraft carriers and various amphibious vessels. – This does not affect this exercise either. But there is a general ban on drones because of the military exercise that I ask people to familiarize themselves with. It is due to security considerations, says Karlsen in FOH. He adds: – I am not worried. The police are now in charge of this case. New NATO countries in the exercise On Thursday 7 March, Sweden officially became members of NATO. This year, soldiers from Sweden and Finland are also participating in the exercise. Due to NATO expansion, the Norwegian military exercise Cold Response has been expanded into a Nordic Response exercise. Photo: Jonas Løken Estenstad / news – Today is a historic day. Now all five Nordic countries are part of NATO. We share a community of values, and under Nordic Response we train on common security, said Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre in that connection. – NATO is a political-military alliance. Now there are two clear democratic voices around the NATO table.
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Four people arrested for illegal drone flying in Bjerkvik – near the Nordic Response exercise – news Nordland
