What does NATO frontline defence look like?
#Finland does a very clear piece of signalling by announcing an unusual exercise on the even of the #NATOSummit:
Lots to unpack 🧵 1/x
maavoimat.fi/-/maavoimien-v…
#Finland does a very clear piece of signalling by announcing an unusual exercise on the even of the #NATOSummit:
Lots to unpack 🧵 1/x
maavoimat.fi/-/maavoimien-v…
The main highway from the border w Russia west into southern Finland (Vt.7) will be closed for a week (22.7-30.7) for @Puolustusvoimat led multi-authority excercise. The length, duration and time of closure make this VERY unique. 2/x
Map by @iltasanomat is.fi/kotimaa/art-20…
Map by @iltasanomat is.fi/kotimaa/art-20…
The exercise revolves around a rapidly developing situation and includes FDF, Border Guard, police etc, and almost all readiness units, VYKS, (their readiness is measured in minutes/hour). In total some 1700 people & 300 vehicles. Ok, facts done.
What does this mean? 3/x
What does this mean? 3/x
Bottom line: the exercise will show the main potential Russian axis of advance into 🇫🇮 can be quickly defended through joint multi-layered operation:
Combat engineering to funnel & stop attacker, land and air assets to destroy them along the length of the highway + more 4/x
Combat engineering to funnel & stop attacker, land and air assets to destroy them along the length of the highway + more 4/x
The exercise revolves around a rapidly developing situation and includes FDF, Border Guard, police etc, and almost all readiness units, VYKS, (their readiness is measured in minutes/hour). In total some 1700 people & 300 vehicles. Ok, facts done.
What does this mean? 3/x
What does this mean? 3/x
Bottom line: the exercise will show the main potential Russian axis of advance into 🇫🇮 can be quickly defended through joint multi-layered operation:
Combat engineering to funnel & stop attacker, land and air assets to destroy them along the length of the highway + more 4/x
Combat engineering to funnel & stop attacker, land and air assets to destroy them along the length of the highway + more 4/x
Background: all defence relevant structures like bridges & overpasses are designed and built to enable easy demolition.
There are no preplaced mines but 🇫🇮 has many, from basic to pretty nifty ones; all 🇫🇮 soldiers learn basics of mining, combat engineers are the pros.
5/x
There are no preplaced mines but 🇫🇮 has many, from basic to pretty nifty ones; all 🇫🇮 soldiers learn basics of mining, combat engineers are the pros.
5/x
The reason the exercise is multi-authority is that all are needed for specific tasks, which together add layers of capability while ensuring everything done is legal. For example:
🇫🇮BG is training right at the border; likely their recon, ‘slow down’ and JTAC skills 6/x
🇫🇮BG is training right at the border; likely their recon, ‘slow down’ and JTAC skills 6/x
https://twitter.com/kaakkoisraja/status/1810606035456884966
‘Behind’ the BG @Maavoimat engineers would lay mines & do demolitions, artillery would confirm premade fires plans, @Navyfi VYKS unit would land ashore and @FinnishAirForce would do air cover and prep for A2G. 7/x
Why is this relevant for NATO?
It is 💯 % guarantee that 🇫🇮 will do what needs to be done to defend Alliance borders, not ‘fear’ defensive preparations would be considered ’escalatory’. 8/x
It is 💯 % guarantee that 🇫🇮 will do what needs to be done to defend Alliance borders, not ‘fear’ defensive preparations would be considered ’escalatory’. 8/x
After formal #NATOSummit decision, ops like these would be led from new NATO Land Component Command (Corps level) in Finland and be integrated into NATO plans and FLF exercises/ rotations in 🇫🇮.
#StrongerTogether
9/x
#StrongerTogether
9/x
I left out, but pointed out by many, that there is an equivalent exercise up north, with Ally Norway. 10/x
https://x.com/koskela_antti/status/1810647990433923121
The terrain is 'made for' defence, and with some practice counter-attacks. Allies have already gotten a first experience there, during #NorthernForest24 (vid below), in effect 'concept testing' the FLF-format for Finland. 11/x
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