Importance of cyber cooperation emphasized in Exercise Locked Shields 26

The Finnish Defence Forces participated in cyber defence exercise Locked Shields 26 in a joint team with the National Defence Training Association NDTA, Estonia and the United States. Constantly changing cyber threats do not know national borders, so training together and developing the cyber capability is increasingly important.

The Finnish team, which mainly consisted of reservists and volunteers from the National Defence Training Association, had an opportunity to test their skills in a high-quality training environment provided by Locked Shields 26 and to learn partner countries’ tried and tested procedures.  Finland’s participation in Locked Shields 26 is a demonstration of the cooperation of the Defence Forces and the National Defence Training Association.  Cyber activities keep advancing constantly and practising regularly is essential for maintaining competent performance.  The Defence Forces appreciates the NDTA’s involvement, because the Association plays a decisive role in the training of cyber reservists and people not liable for military service.   The Defence Forces has taken part in Locked Shields with the NDTA several times already with great success.  

Approximately 4,000 people from 40 countries participated in exercise Locked Shields 26.  All participating teams consisted of teams of two or more countries.  This time around, Finland participated in the exercise in a joint team of some 100 people with the Estonian Defence Forces and the Virginia and Maryland National Guards. As far as setting up the joint team and practising were concerned, establishing common procedures as quickly as possible was crucial for making the team operational.  

Cyber security is based on Allies relying on each other

Cooperation at different levels nationally and internationally is crucial, because cyber threats do not know national borders.  In fact, the objective of the exercise was to work on the cyber defence cooperation between Finland, Estonia, the United States and NATO, and the cooperation was indeed appreciated by all the parties. 

– The cyber operating environment is decisively global and complex. Good relations with Allies and an ability to operate together are of central importance in this operating environment, said the director of Finnish exercise coordination, Lieutenant Joona Vainio.  

–  No one can do this alone. We need to be able to work together against a common adversary. In order to be able to operate together, we need to build relationships and practice collaboration, said the officer in charge of the Maryland National Guard’s exercise preparations, Lieutenant Colonel Robert DeLuca.   

– As a small country we are reliant on our allies. There are no borders in the cyber environment, so we need to have good relations with our Allies and abilities to work with them, said the officer in charge of the Estonian Defence Forces’ exercise preparations, Lieutenant Colonel Sander Soomre. 

In Locked Shields, everybody works towards a common goal

In exercise Locked Shields, the teams are tasked with protecting critical infrastructure and information systems against cyber threats. Each team is assigned to protect a similar environment, and the exercise organisation conducts different-level attacks against these systems.  The countries participating in the exercise must detect, counter and report them to the exercise leadership.  

– The best thing about the exercise was the time compression and pressure that forced you out of your comfort zone and put every participant’s skills and resilience to the test.  The cooperation has been really smooth.  The majority of participants from all the countries have been volunteers.  Making exercise preparations working in different time zones and on a voluntary basis, on the terms of your everyday work and life creates a challenge, but regardless, the exercise has been a great success. Everybody is professional and works towards the common goal, said the leader of the joint Blue Team 02, a reserve lieutenant who did not say his name, referring to his experiences during the exercise. 

The Defence Forces and the NDTA participated in the international exercise Locked Shields 26 from 13 to 24 April 2026.  The NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence, CCDCOE has organised a series of the world’s largest annual cyber defence exercises since 2010.  The Locked Shields 26 exercise is part of the Defence Forces 2026 training and exercise activities. It was led by the Finnish Defence Forces C5 Agency, FDFC5A.