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ABOVE: Cold Response is usually held every other year. This year, the exercise has been expanded to include two new NATO countries and has been named Nordic Response. Photo: Hedvig Idås, Forsvarets forum
Over the next few weeks, over 20,000 soldiers, 100 aircraft and 50 naval vessels will train to defend the Nordic region against an outside threat.
The Norwegian military exercise Cold Response has a long history and takes place in northern Norway every two years. After the NATO expansion with Finland and eventually Sweden, the exercise is now being extended to Nordic Response.
The short version:
Nordic Response expands the Norwegian military exercise Cold Response to include Finland and Sweden, and takes place in northern Norway, Sweden and Finland.
Over 20,000 soldiers from at least 14 countries are participating, with activities on land, in the air and at sea, including over 100 aircraft and 50 naval vessels.
The summary is generated by artificial intelligence, but read through by a journalist.
To see the significance of the exercise, the head of the Norwegian Armed Forces’ operational headquarters, Vice-Admiral Rune Andersen, believes that one should zoom out a little to see the big picture.
Nordic Response is included in NATO’s exercise Steadfast Defendera larger practice series that started in January and continues throughout the spring.
– Overall, this is the largest NATO exercise since the Cold War. Nato is training to strengthen Europe across the Atlantic and defend all of Nato’s territory, from Finnmark in the north to the Black Sea in the south, says Andersen.
– Unity and strength
Over 20,000 soldiers take part in the exercise. Of these, around 10,000 will be on land. The participants come from at least 14 countries, but the numbers may change as it gets closer to the start of rehearsals.
The exercise will have its center of gravity in northern Norway, Sweden and Finland as well as in associated airspace and sea areas.
The greatest activity will be at sea with over 50 registered submarines, frigates, corvettes, aircraft carriers and various amphibious vessels.
– What signal does NR24 send to our neighbor to the east, Russia?
– The exercise sends a clear signal of unity and strength in the alliance. It also shows that we are able to bring together land, sea and air forces from several countries and operate effectively together, says Andersen.
– If Russia pays close attention, they will also see that we practice operations that are defensively oriented with the intention of defending NATO member states, and we do this in a transparent way that has been announced in advance, he adds.
New headquarters
Over 100 combat aircraft, transport aircraft, maritime surveillance aircraft and allied CH-53 Super Stallion, Merlin, Cobra and Osprey participate in the air.
On the ground, thousands of soldiers will defend and protect Nordic territory with various artillery systems, tanks, tracked vehicles and other land vessels.
According to Andersen, Nordic Response differs from previous exercises, because it trains on integrated operations in the Nordic region, with the exercise activity extending across the border to our Nordic neighbours. It is something that will provide important experience in the ongoing work to integrate Finland and Sweden into NATO’s defense plans.
In addition, NATO’s new joint operational headquarters is being practiced in Norfolk. They will have the opportunity to train on their new role with regional responsibility for the Atlantic Ocean, Norway – and eventually the entire Nordic region.
– What does it mean for Norway that Finland and soon Sweden will become part of NATO?
– Finnish and Swedish membership in the alliance is a new era for defense cooperation in the north. We are well on our way to revising our plans for various scenarios we must be prepared for. At the same time, it is necessary to maintain the close cooperation we have with our other close allies who have an interest and ability to contribute to security in the northern regions, Andersen says.
The main part of Nordic Response takes place from 3 to 14 March 2024.
In Norway, the most activity will be from Bjerkvik and inner Troms and further north-east to Alta and Midt-Finnmark. In addition, there will be a lot of activity in the sea areas outside Troms and Finnmark.
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