UK agrees mutual security deals with Finland and Sweden

[Josh]

Maybe I can see some their kit dockside when I boat into Tallin.

Also I think technically it’s a cavalry squadron, though it is a battalion sized operation.

[Stuart Galbraith]

Please get us photos if you see them Josh.

[Colin]

5 hours ago, Sardaukar said:

https://www.defmin.fi/en/topical/press_releases_and_news/germany_joins_finland-led_cavs_project.13542.news#f6a582c0

Germany has signed an agreement on joining the Common Armoured Vehicle System CAVS, a research and development programme led by Finland together with Latvia and Sweden. CAVS is based on the 6 x 6 armoured vehicle developed by Patria. Germany's signing of the agreement is seen to suggest that it will order Patria 6 x 6 vehicles. 

....

Finland, Latvia and Patria signed the framework agreement on armoured vehicles in 2021. At the same time, Latvia ordered more than 200 Patria 6 x 6 armoured vehicles while Finland signed a letter of intent on 160 vehicles. 

Finland's serial procurement was launched in 2021 with a test series commissioned by the Defence Forces, which was used to decide on the equipment for the vehicles. The Defence Forces' serial order is now being finalised with the aim of getting the first new XA-300 armoured vehicles into service this year.

or figure out what the competition is doing and then ditch them while incorporating their tech into your product... 

[Sardaukar]

Since it was recently National Veterans' Day in Finland, there are always speeches:

https://www.defmin.fi/ajankohtaista/puheet/puolustusministeri_antti_kaikkosen_puhe_kansallisen_veteraanipaivan_valtakunnallisessa_paajuhlassa_27.4.2023.13556.news#f6a582c0

Google Translate might make it palatable for those not of "reindeer eating ilk".

"Mainitsin aikaisemmin korkean maanpuolustustahdon. Tuo maanpuolustustahto, se on tutkimusten mukaan historiallisen korkealla. Se ei ole vain Pohjoismaiden huippua, se ei ole vain Euroopan huippua. Se on koko maailman huippua. Tässä maassa asuu kansa, joka arvostaa vapauttaan ja itsenäisyyttään."

"I mentioned the high will to defend the country earlier. That will to defend the country, according to research, it is historically high. It is not only the top of the Nordic countries, it is not only the top of Europe. It is the top of the entire world. This country is home to a nation that values its freedom and independence."

Edited April 30, 2023 by Sardaukar

[BansheeOne]

Those damn Nordics are always on top of everything, including maps.

[Markus Becker]

How very insightful. Romania and Bulgaria both score lower than Hungary. Yet they don't make the news. 

 

[urbanoid]

1 hour ago, BansheeOne said:

Those damn Nordics are always on top of everything, including maps.

And heavy metal bands lost in the forests too.

[Sardaukar]

One of the largest Nordic military exercise since Cold War is currently held in Sweden. 

https://www.krisinformation.se/en/hazards-and-risks/disasters-and-incidents/2023/aurora-23-military-exercise

Between 17 April and 11 May, more than 26,000 people from the Swedish Army, Swedish Navy, Swedish Air Force, Home Guard and military personnel from 14 other countries will be training together.

This includes 1100 troops from Finland, from Army, Navy and Air Force.  Some surprises also:

In addition to Sweden and Finland, the participating countries are Great Britain, Austria, Canada, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Portugal, Poland, France, Germany, Denmark, Estonia and the United States. Ukrainian soldiers have also been invited. Of the international partners, the largest number of training troops involved, after Finland, are from the United States and Great Britain.

Also, main theme of exercise so defence of Gotland.  

 

Edited May 2, 2023 by Sardaukar

[Markus Becker]

Not the official patch.

 

 

[sunday]

Kinda pathetic, I think.

[Sardaukar]

Zelensky making surprise visit to Finland today:

https://yle.fi/a/74-20029968

[Colin]

On 5/3/2023 at 4:01 AM, Sardaukar said:

Zelensky making surprise visit to Finland today:

https://yle.fi/a/74-20029968

Wonder what they have in common........  😉

[Sardaukar]

https://maavoimat.fi/-/karelian-lock-23-taisteluharjoituksessa-mitataan-joukkojen-osaaminen-ja-suorituskyky?languageId=en_US

....

Units from Karelia Brigade, the Army Academy, Pori Brigade, Armoured Brigade, the 1st Logistics Regiment, the Finnish Defence Forces C5 Agency, Karelia Air Command and North Karelia Border Guard will participate in the exercise.  International troops from the United States Army will take part in the exercise.

...

The aim of the exercise is to develop leadership capabilities and joint operations. One of the central themes of exercise Karelian Lock 23 is coastal defence, and the exercise will be conducted with the Navy exercise Atrain 23.  The exercise is aimed at developing the Army’s ability to defend South-Eastern Finland in cooperation with Allies.

....

- The participation of the U.S. Army troops is a good addition to the exercise.  We will have an opportunity to continue developing joint operations and interoperability in the conditions of South-Eastern Finland. For many conscripts participation in exercise Karelian Lock 23 is the final exercise of their military training, and it is great that they get to test their skills with Allied troops. 

[Sardaukar]

Finnish AF training jet Hawk crashes. Pilots ejected and are safe.

https://yle.fi/a/74-20031919

A Finnish Air Force Hawk training fighter jet crashed in Central Finland on Monday afternoon, but both pilots managed to escape in their ejection seats before the crash.

What makes this unique is that it was second time pilots have ejected from same plane!

In past same plane lost wheel in landing and pilots ejected then too. Plane was repaired and returned to service.

Well...won't happen this time, they ejected at 500m altitude. 

 

 

[Stuart Galbraith]

Its a Hawk, it will buff right out....

[Sardaukar]

15 hours ago, Stuart Galbraith said:

Its a Hawk, it will buff right out....

https://www.flightglobal.com/pictures-second-accident-spells-end-for-finlands-frankenhornet/91589.article

The loss was the second mishap to have involved aircraft HN-468 inside a decade. The two-seat trainer had been badly damaged in a mid-air collision with a Finnish F-18C in November 2001, and had been returned to flight only last month (below) after a major rebuild programme performed by Patria.

...

Nicknamed the "Frankenhornet", it had returned to flight status on 3 December 2009, following the completion of a roughly 100,000h programme to bring it back to operational use.

[Sardaukar]

https://ilmavoimat.fi/en/ace23-en

...

This year's Arctic Challenge Exercise (ACE 23) is the sixth of its kind that Finland, Norway and Sweden have hosted together. The exercise conducted every second year since 2013 is this time led by the Finnish Air Force that is responsible for planning and direction of the training event. 

...

Approximately 3,000 soldiers and 150 aircraft from 14 different nations' armed forces will take part in the exercise. Apart from the host nations, the exercise will involve participants from the Netherlands, Belgium, the United Kingdom, Italy, Canada, France, Germany, Switzerland, Denmark, the Czech Republic and the United States, and NATO with its AWACS aircraft. In addition to multirole fighters, the exercise will involve for example transport aircraft and air-to-air refuellers. 

Edited May 26, 2023 by Sardaukar

[Sardaukar]

Finland is selling 8 Patria NEMO 120mm mortar systems for Swedish Amphibious Forces for indirect and direct fire support:

https://suomensotilas.fi/2023/05/26/patria-toimittaa-nemo-jarjestelmia-ruotsin-amfibiojoukkojen-kayttoon/ (in Finnish, but Google Translate "might" help)..  (It really has bad time with Finnish... )

System itself:

https://www.patriagroup.com/products-and-services/protected-mobility-and-defence-systems/armament/patria-nemo-navy

Edited May 27, 2023 by Sardaukar

[Sardaukar]

Arctic Challenge Exercise (ACE 23) has started:

https://ilmavoimat.fi/en/ace23-en

The Air Forces of Finland, Norway and Sweden will host multinational Arctic Challenge Exercise 2023 from 29 May to 9 June 2023. 

Approximately 3,000 soldiers and 150 aircraft from 14 different nations' armed forces will take part in the exercise. Apart from the host nations, the exercise will involve participants from the Netherlands, Belgium, the United Kingdom, Italy, Canada, France, Germany, Switzerland, Denmark, the Czech Republic and the United States, and NATO with its AWACS aircraft. In addition to multirole fighters, the exercise will involve for example transport aircraft and air-to-air refuellers. 

[Sardaukar]

Baltops 23 naval exercise started today.

https://puolustusvoimat.fi/en/-//1951215/finnish-navy-ships-in-exercise-baltops-23-in-the-baltic-sea

https://www.navy.mil/Press-Office/News-Stories/Article/3410239/us-sixth-fleet-naval-striking-and-support-forces-nato-to-kick-off-baltops-2023/

Though Finland has long participated in BALTOPS as a critical partner, BALTOPS 23 marks the first incorporation of Finland as a NATO Ally.

[Josh]

If there's another Baltops, presumably that last section of pipeline gets popped?

[Sardaukar]

https://yle.fi/a/74-20036912

Weep, Putler and his cronies, weep

[Sardaukar]

As said:

 

[Sardaukar]

 

[Sardaukar]

And...here we go