The Swedish and Finnish navies are conducting Mine Countermeasures Exercise North 2026 along the coast and shipping lanes in Västernorrland (central Sweden) between 7 and 16 September. The Swedish Armed Forces state that the exercise is led by the 42nd Mine Countermeasures Division, with participants from the Fourth Naval Warfare Flotilla, the Stockholm Amphibious Regiment and the Finnish Navy. A total of around ten vessels are taking part.
"By training the Swedish and Finnish navies together, we strengthen our joint capability and, by extension, NATO's overall capability in northern Europe," says Commander Anders Barrestedt, head of the 42nd Mine Countermeasures Division and exercise director for Mine Countermeasures Exercise North 2026.
During the exercise, defensive drills are also being carried out against various types of airborne targets, to train crews in close-in defence against threats including drones. Barrestedt emphasises that cooperation with the Stockholm Amphibious Regiment is crucial for being able to carry out tasks under conditions of heightened threat.