Germany integrates Patriot air defense systems with Finland during military exercise

Europe, News May 20, 2024 , by IRIA No Comments

Germany deployed its Patriot air defense systems to Finland and successfully integrated the Patriot firing unit with a Finnish brigade during exercise Mallet Strike 24-1. German and Finnish forces trained tactics, techniques, and procedures and integrated Command and Control structure.

During the exercise, the participating forces conducted a combined sea and road move from Germany to Finland. It involved more than 50 vehicles and 40 trailers covering 1500 kilometers of distance and deploying assets to the assembly area in the Lohtaja Military Training Area in Finland.

The German Patriot firing unit then moved to the forward position and participated in the combined integrated operation with Finnish Ground-Based Air Defense forces. The German 120-strong PATRIOT unit fully integrated into exercise Mallet Strike and worked with about 1700 personnel from the Finnish Defence Forces.

Commander of the German PATRIOT detachment, Lieutenant Colonel Christoph Schmaler said, “We are running system and connectivity tests with our equipment to make sure we can communicate with our Finnish colleagues.” He highlighted that Germany is the “First NATO Ally to participate in this Finnish exercise – that has been conducted since 1952.”

Germany Patriot system — *^{The launcher of the German PATRIOT unit during preparation for combined integrated operation with Finnish Ground-Based Air Defense forces. (Image Credit: Bundeswehr/NATO AIRCOM)}*

The Finland-led Mallet Strike Ipsum is hosted annually by the Finnish Armed Forces. Finnish Inspector of the Ground Base Air Defence Forces Colonel Mano-Mikael Nokelainen said, “We conduct this exercise twice a year in the spring and the fall in a mix of live firing and live flying drills.”

Colonel Nokelainen underscored that the exercise prepares all Ground-Based Defense Forces operators across the whole chain of command for their wartime mission of defending.

The NATO Allied Air Command (AIRCOM) highlighted that joint exercises between Allied forces hone cooperation and interoperability among partners which is vital for meaningful deterrence and defense of the whole Alliance.

The collaboration between the German Ground-Based Air Defense and the Finnish forces demonstrates NATO’s “cohesion and capabilities” and highlights that the “Allied forces are integrated by design,” the statement added.

Finnish air defense unit during live firing exercise — ^{A Finnish air defense unit during live firing in support of exercise Mallet Strike, which is a standing training event for Finnish Ground-Based Air Defense from the armed forces. (Image Credit: Finnish Air Force/NATO AIRCOM)}

“Embedded in the NATO Integrated Air and Missile Defence System via the Finnish Control and Reporting Centre, the German unit will contribute to the Recognised Air Picture, [and] practice engagement operations against drones and aircraft acting inside [the] joint combined Missile Engagement Zone,” the AIRCOM statement read.