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Brunssum, The Netherlands – The international Air Defence Exercise (ADEX) Mallet Strike 2/24 was conducted at the Lohtaja firing and training area in Finland, from the 12^th to the 21^st of November, 2024.

With the Allies, the main goal is to train and enhance our interoperability

Approximately 1,300 personnel participated, including Finnish troops as well as air defence soldiers from the United States, Sweden, and Norway.

The exercise focused on strengthening collaboration and refining tactics to address modern air defence challenges in a multinational environment. It emphasised the importance of seamless integration between Allied forces to ensure readiness and interoperability in real-world scenarios.

“With the Allies, the main goal is to train and enhance our interoperability. We have a chance to challenge and integrate US and Swedish troops, and Norwegian operators as a part of our exercise and national air defence solution,” said Colonel Mano-Mikael Nokelainen, Finnish Inspector of the Ground-Based Air Defence, who led the exercise. “We all accepted this challenge and together we made this exercise successful. I thank our Allies from the States, Sweden, and Norway for their commitment to our common goals.”

The exercise provided a unique platform for international troops to enhance their air defence capabilities and foster seamless integration among Allied forces. By working together in realistic and demanding scenarios, participants gained valuable experience in coordination and communication across different military systems. The collaboration allowed for the exchange of expertise and operational techniques, strengthening the shared understanding required for future joint missions. These efforts not only improved individual and unit readiness but also demonstrated the collective ability to respond effectively as a unified force.

“We have achieved our main goal with this exercise, which is building Nordic air defence interoperability in a NATO context. It has been a challenging exercise, and the participants have proven their abilities in many different ways,” said Colonel Johan Jönsson, Swedish Inspector of the Ground-Based Air Defence. “We have also exchanged experiences and gained new insights from our colleagues in Finland. By participating in Mallet Strike, we now know for a fact that Swedish air defence has the ability to work as an integrated part of NATO’s defence.”

The 10-day exercise consisted of two phases: the firing phase and the anti-aircraft phase. During the firing phase, participants conducted live-fire exercises with anti-aircraft artillery and missile systems, targeting challenging scenarios in both daylight and night-time conditions. The short daylight hours of autumn made night-time operations a key focus.

The second phase involved training in an Electronic Warfare environment to counter diverse air threats. The performance of exercise participants was evaluated using advanced simulators and models, ensuring precision and readiness through detailed technical analysis.