This year’s Arctic Challenge Exercise (ACE 23) is the sixth of its kind which Finland, Norway, and Sweden have hosted together. The Finnish Air Force is responsible for planning and directing the training event that is conducted every second year since 2013.
Approximately 3,000 soldiers and 150 aircraft from 14 different nations’ armed forces will take part in the ACE23. 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.
Twelve Finnish Air Force F/A-18 Hornet multirole fighters and liaison and transport aircraft will operate in the exercise. Flying will be conducted from Monday to Friday in two daily waves from 9 am to 6 pm Finland time (from 8 to 5 Norway and Sweden time). The ACE 23 host bases are located at Rovaniemi and Pirkkala in Finland, Luleå in Sweden and Ørland in Norway.
The Arctic Challenge Exercises is part of the NORDEFCO cooperation between Finland, Norway, Sweden, and Denmark. Their Air Forces regularly carry out combined air combat-related Cross Border Training operated from their home bases.
The purpose was for the three Nordic nations to practice together and across their countries’ borders. Since then, the exercise has grown to include even more allied nations. It is a unique opportunity for nations to be practicing across larger training areas and with other aircraft.
