The exercise is fully underway this week, and is the largest military flight exercise in Europe this year. A great deal of the activity will be from Norway and Ørland. – Finland and Sweden are in the process of changing their status as NATO members. This has meant that other NATO countries have shown a greater interest in coming up to the Nordic countries and participating in this exercise. That’s what the commander of the air base on Ørlandet and leader of 132 Air Wing, Martin Tesli, says. He also points to another important reason why there is an urge to practice. Interest in the exercise is record high. – It is extra important this year. Precisely because there is a change in Europe, there is war, says Tesli. A total of 150 fighters will practice together over the Nordkalotten for two weeks. Many countries in Europe participate with their planes. Here, a Norwegian F-35 takes off from the air base on Ørlandet. Photo: Ingrid Lindgaard Stranden / news Don’t be afraid it will provoke Russia Close to a thousand people and around 50 planes have arrived at Ørland fighter base. It is Norway’s main base, and one of the four most important in the Nordic region during the exercise. A total of 2,800 people from 13 countries, in addition to NATO, are taking part. The activity is distributed between the bases Ørland in Norway, Kallax in Sweden and Rovaniemi and Pirkkala in Finland. The Nordic countries are the hosts. The world’s largest aircraft carrier, the American vessel USS Gerald R. Ford, has come to Norway to be part of it all. The aircraft carrier has attracted a lot of attention. The American vessel USS Gerald R. Ford has recently visited Oslo before it will now take part in the large flight exercise, the Arctic Challenge Exercise. Photo: Shea Liv Kristin Joy Metzger / defense Stein Tønnesson, researcher at The Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO), believes the visit of the aircraft carrier can be perceived as a sign of hostility towards Russia. – It helps to further intensify the Russian reaction against Norway and NATO, says Tønnesson. The Minister of Defense believes that there is no reason why Russia should see this as a provocation. – There is no reason to believe that there will be any activity that will in any way be provocative to Russia or others. It is common for allied presence in Norwegian waters to practice and train, says Bjørn Arld Gram (Sp), to news. Will practice for two weeks The Arctic Challenge Exercise has been organized every two years since 2014, and is part of the Nordic defense cooperation Nordic Defense Cooperation (NORDEFCO). There is joint training between Finland, Norway and Sweden. – We in the Nordic countries have to show that we stand together. We do that with this exercise, says Tesli. A total of 150 military aircraft will practice over the North Calotte for two weeks. Commander of the air base on Ørlandet, leader of 132 Air Wing, Martin Tesli says the exercise is extra important this year, as there is war in Europe. Photo: Ingrid LIndgaard Stranden / news Norway provides the F-35 and the air defense system NASAMS for the exercise. The first time Norway participated with the new fighter type F-35 in the exercise was in 2021. At Ørland air station there will be personnel from Norway, Belgium, Italy, the Netherlands, the USA, the Czech Republic and NATO. According to what news learns, the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford will head north to Vesterålen and contribute to the exercise from there. One of the special things about this ship is that planes can take off from it and land on it. – In crisis and war, we need allied help and reinforcement. Then it is incredibly important that the USA and others are in our areas and get to know our geography and weather conditions and can train in teams, says Gram. He also points out that Norway is in the process of strengthening its defense capabilities. – It is common for allied presence in Norwegian waters to practice and train. It is part of the normal, and it is something Norway welcomes, says Gram.
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Sweden and Finland draw extra people into big practice – news Trøndelag
