On Friday, Sweden and Germany rehearses a rapid deployment of forces to Gotland, exercising NATO plans to rapidly strengthen the defence of the Baltic Sea region. German troops landed at Visby harbour alongside Swedish forces, while units from the Swedish and German Navy and Air Force secured the seas and the skies.
This autumn, the Swedish Armed Forces will contribute units to strengthen Finland’s territorial defence against drones. Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine has led to an increase in drone incursions into allied airspace, including Finnish airspace. The Swedish Armed Forces are now strengthening the Alliance’s eastern defence with counter-drone capabilities in the air and at sea.
On Friday, the Swedish Air Force's Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) conducted two scrambles with JAS 39 Gripen fighter jets to intercept Russian military aircraft over the Baltic Sea near Swedish airspace.
The two incidents occurred in the southern and eastern parts of the Baltic Sea and involved one Russian Su-24 and one Russian Su-34.
The Swedish QRA responded swiftly upon detecting the Russian
On Sweden’s National Day June 6, a ceremony was held in Boden to mark the establishment of NATO’s latest multinational force – Forward Land Forces Finland (FLF FIN) – with representatives from the Swedish Armed Forces, Finnish Defence Forces, NATO and specially invited guests.
Ceremony for the establishment of NATO’s Forward Land Forces – Finland. The Swedish Armed Forces have the honour of inviting media to the historic ceremony marking the establishment of NATO’s Forward Land Forces – Finland. Boden, Sweden, 6 June 2026
Sweden is currently conducting exercise Aurora 26 - rehearsing the reinforcement and defence of Gotland and the Baltic Sea together with Danish, American, British, and Ukrainian forces. The military exercise marks a historic development as Sweden conducts exercise Aurora for the first time as a NATO Ally.
Ramstein, Germany - The Swedish Air Force, supported by NATO Allied Air Command (NATO AIRCOM), will host a media event at the Norrbotten Wing, Kallax Air Base, on 16 June as part of Ramstein Flag 26 (RAFL26).
During the Swedish-led exercise Aurora 26 - U.S. Army Soldiers assigned to Multi-Domain Command – Europe will conduct a training event with Micro High-Altitude Balloons in coordination with NATO Allies in early May.
The activity supports ongoing experimentation with emerging technologies and allows Soldiers to validate procedures for launching, monitoring, and recovering high-altitude platforms
The Swedish Armed Forces has invited the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ contribution to exercise AURORA 26 to be conducted within the framework of JEF-Ukraine Enhanced Partnership.
“NATO’s Forward Land Forces [FLF] in Finland is the Alliance’s foremost line of defense in the north,” says Swedish Colonel Daniel Rydberg, who will take command of the FLF with Sweden as a Framework Nation this summer. “We stand together with Finland and our allies to deter and defend in the High North.”
From 27 April to 13 May, the Swedish Armed Forces will conduct Aurora 26, the largest national military exercise of the year. Executed in close coordination with allied nations and Ukraine, the exercise will rehearse operational defense plans and strengthen security and stability in the Baltic Sea region.
On Friday, Swedish JAS 39 Gripen intercepted a Russian Kilo-class submarine in the Kattegat. Together with allies, the Swedish Armed Forces are now monitoring the submarine’s continued route into the Baltic Sea. The operation is part of our routine activities, which maintain the Armed Forces’ strong situational awareness in our immediate area and ensure Swedish and allied territorial integrity.
