Up to 3,000 soldiers to participate in a series of exercises strengthening Finland’s local defence
The Army will organise the local defence exercises during 24.2.–7.3. this spring. From the Defence Forces, the altogether six local defence exercises will be participated by up to c. 3,000 conscripts, reservists, and service personnel, as well as more than 400 vehicles in total. As is characteristic for local defence exercises, the training audience will also include a significant number of other authorities and business sector stakeholders. Each exercise will focus on securing its own region’s critical targets, which will enhance their protection in disruptions. For information on training and exercise activity in your area, please see the release.
The local forces’ specialist competence will be developed in co-operation with other authorities based on the area of responsibility, force use principle and location. The local defence exercises organised by the Army will now involve troops of the Alliance for the first time as the exercise Lapland Stone 25 to be held in Lapland is to be participated by troops from Sweden and the U.S. The purpose of their participation is to strengthen the Army’s capability for receiving international assistance also for tasks of local defence.
—The objective of the local defence exercises this spring is to develop the local forces’ capability for increasingly demanding combat tasks across Finland, while strengthening the readiness of the whole local defence network to respond to broad-spectrum influencing, and to conduct inter-agency co-operation to secure society’s vital functions, says Army Chief of Operations, Brigadier General Sami-Antti Takamaa.
Local forces sport a host of interesting tasks for active reservists! For information on how to apply for your own area’s local forces, see: https://intti.fi/paikallisjoukot
Lively Stone
The objective of the Guard Jaeger Regiment -led local defence exercise “Lively Stone 25” is to practice the tasks of local defence in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area and enhance cooperation between authorities in various disruption situations. The exercise areas are Helsinki and Vantaa. The special training and development target in the exercise is communication between authorities in exceptional conditions and disruption situations.
- Date: 3.-7.3.2025
- Exercise area: Helsinki and Vantaa
- Troops: c.500 personnel
- c. 100 vehicles
- The exercise will be participated by troops from the Guard Jaeger Regiment, Coastal Brigade, and Gulf of Finland Coast Guard District.
- Participating authorities: City of Helsinki, Helsinki Police Department, and Helsinki Rescue Department
- Exercise Director: Lieutenant Colonel Jussi Annala
- Exercise PAO: Lotta Laaksonen
Mighty Stone 25
The Armoured Brigade will lead the local defence exercise “Mighty Stone 25” in Pirkanmaa, Päijät-Häme, Central Finland and Kanta-Häme regions. The aim of the exercise is to develop interoperable operating and cooperation with authorities, partners and other FDF units in the region. In addition, the exercise develops the leadership of local forces and the formation of a common situation picture between different authorities.
- Date: 3.3. - 7.3.2025
- Exercise area: Pirkanmaa, Päijät-Häme, Keski-Suomi, Kanta-Häme
- Troops: c. 340 personnel
- c. 40 vehicles
- Participating authorities: Häme Police Department, Päijät-Häme Rescue Department, and Wellbeing Services County of Päijät-Häme
- Exercise Director: Lieutenant Colonel Kai Naumanen
- Exercise PAO: Milla Huunonen
Kinetic Stone 25
The objective of the Pori Brigade -led local defence exercise Kinetic Stone 25 is to train conscripts and hone the skills of service personnel in tasks of local defence, such as protection and securing of targets, regional surveillance and provision of inter-agency assistance to other authorities, as well as to develop implementation of local defence with the region’s other authorities. In Ostrobothnia, the emphasis of local defence tasks will be on securing traffic connections and logistics, establishing and training troops, and protecting energy production and other critical production.
- Date: 28.2. - 7.3.2025
- Exercise area: Säkylä, Satakunta (28.2.-2.3.2025), the main effort in Ostrobothnia and Vaasa in particular, additionally South Ostrobothnia, Satakunta, Southwest Finland (3.-7.3.2025)
- Troops: c. 300
- c. 60 vehicles
- Participating authorities: Ostrobothnia Police Department, Ostrobothnia Rescue Department, Coastal Fleet, West Finland Coast Guard District, Customs, Nyland Brigade, and City of Vaasa
- Exercise Director: Colonel Vesa Helminen
- Exercise PAO: Sami Kaunisto
Karelian Stone 25
The Karelia Brigade will lead the local defence exercise Karelian Stone 25 in Northern Kymenlaakso. The objective of the exercise is to develop co-operation between the region’s local forces and the authorities operating in the area, as well as readiness for local tasks of combat, rescue, protection and securing.
- Date: 3. - 7.3.2025
- Exercise area: Kymenlaakso
- Troops: c. 800 personnel
- c. 100 vehicles
- Participating authorities: City of Kouvola, South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences (XAMK), Regional State Administrative Agency for Southern Finland, Southeastern Finland Police Department, Wellbeing Services Country of Kymenlaakso, Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment for Southeast Finland, Kymen Turva readiness and security forum, Finnish Border Guard, Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency
- Exercise Director: Colonel Ari Määttä
- Exercise PAO: Axel Malén
Northern Stone 25
The Kainuu Brigade -led local defence exercise Northern Stone 25 will be held in the region of North Savo in Kuopio, Siilinjärvi, and Iisalmi. The exercise will focus on exercising the functions of comprehensive defence in co-operation with administrative branches and organisations. The exercise aims to increase the readiness of the area’s authorities and other stakeholders for practical co-operation in disruptions and exceptional conditions.
- Date: 21.2.-28.2.2025
- Exercise area: Kuopio, Siilinjärvi
- Troops: c. 630 personnel
- c. 60 vehicles
- Participating authorities: Regional State Administrative Agency for Eastern Finland, Eastern Finland Police Department, Wellbeing Services County of North Savo (incl. North Savo Rescue Department and North Savo Welfare and Health), North Karelia Border Guard District, Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment for North Savo, City of Kuopio kaupunki, Municipality of Tervo, City of Iisalmi
- Exercise Director: Colonel Tomi Pekurinen
- Exercise PAO: Satu Hujanen
Lapland Stone 25
The objective of the Jaeger Brigade -led local defence exercise Lapland Stone 25 is to develop co-operating of the Finnish local forces and Swedish Home Guard and readiness for tasks of areal combat and protection. In regions of Haaparanta, Tornio, Keminmaa, and Kemi, soldiers will train protecting and securing transports, traffic connections, and other targets. The exercise will also be participated by a U.S. detachment.
- Date: 18.–23.2.2025
- Exercise area: Haaparanta, Tornio, Keminmaa, and Kemi
- Troops: c. 250 personnel from the Jaeger Brigade, Lapland Air Wing, West Finland Coast Guard District, Utti Jaeger Regiment, Guard Jaeger Regiment, Army Command
- International troops from Sweden and the U.S.
- c. 60 vehicles
- Participating authorities: Lapland Police Department, Regional State Administrative Agency for Lapland, Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment for Lapland, National Emergency Supply Agency, Wellbeing Services County of Lapland, Customs Office of Tornio, City of Tornio, Municipality of Keminmaa, City of Kemi, Municipality of Ylitornio, and Municipality of Simo.
- Exercise Director: Colonel Ari Mure
- Exercise PAOs: Viljami Honkiniemi and Taina Pirinen
Locals will be provided an opportunity to familiarise with the exercise troops
During the local defence exercises, the locals in the exercise areas will be provided an opportunity to familiarise with the exercises and their military equipment in Kuopio, Vaasa and Tornio/Haaparanta. The events will be open for all.
- On 23.2.2025 in Tornio-Haaparanta
- On 24.02.2025 at 17:00-19:00 at Kuopio harbour
- On 4.3.2025 at 16:00–19:00 at Vaasa market square
Army troops and equipment will be present in the exercise areas’ towns and residential areas at the turn of February and March.
Follow the exercises:
https://paikallisturvallisuus.fi
#paikallisturvallisuus #paikallispuolustajat
