Defence. One of the world’s largest military training – Arctic Challenge Exercise – starts today. Thousands of people and over 100 aircraft from nine different countries are participating. Critics believe that it represents a rapprochement with NATO.
After more than a year of preparation, it is now time for flight exercise Arctic Challenge Exercise, called ACE 15. There are Sweden, Finland and Norway, which together organize the exercise in northern Sweden . According to the Armed Forces will at most 90 warplanes to be in the air at the same time. Every weekday, two flights passports to be implemented. In the mornings kept separate exercises in the country, while in the afternoon there is a common stridsövning in Swedish, Norwegian and Finnish airspace.
– There are many people involved but not all in the same place, and not everyone has the same task says Louise Levin, CIO at Norrbotten Wing.
Good meteorological
And the conditions could not be better.
– It’s beautiful weather, amazing meteorological says Louise Levin on Monday morning.
ACE 15 has been prepared for over a year, and last week began materiel and personnel to arrive to the flotilla in Luleå. Among combat flights based on the F21 in Luleå is the US F-16 Fighting Falcon and the UK’s Hawk in 2000.
Critical voices
The flight exercise has been criticized for being part of an approach to NATO. In Dagens Nyheter wrote in April a number of renowned cultural workers that it is a war exercise which leads to increased militarization.
Right after ACE 15 starts the multinational annual exercise BALTOPS. Seventeen countries are participating, including the United States, which this year will lead the exercise together with NATO. Sweden has participated in BALTOPS at 23 times.
No comments:
Post a Comment