Training areas of the Finnish Navy

The Navy carries out its statutory training task. Firing exercises with live ammunition are a requirement when training soldiers. Blind ammunition and simulators cannot completely replace live exercises. Movement in any of the Navy’s training and firing range areas without an authorisation is forbidden.

Most of the Navy’s training areas are located on state-owned land, and exercises and firings may be carried out any time of the day or night. Perspectives of environmental protection are observed in the use of these areas. However, protection of these areas does not prevent their use for the Defence Forces’ activities nor developing the areas.

In keeping with its principles, the Defence Forces tries to prevent environmental impacts by proactive planning and preparation for risks or accidents.

Some of the training areas or parts of them are situated on ground water areas. The Defence Forces is paying special attention to protection of ground water, considering it an important environmental objective. We want to keep the areas clean in other respects as well. We are working hard to achieve these goals, for example, by providing conscripts and personnel with training in environmental issues and by environmental monitoring in the training areas.

We try to reduce unnecessary disturbance by setting times for firing activities, for instance. We are open to feedback and take it into account where possible.

Kiikala - Salo

Kiikala Airport is situated in the area of the town of Salo. The area surrounding the airfield is in training use. The airfield is managed by Kiikala säätiö (Kiikala foundation).

Movement in the area during training or exercises requires a special authorisation.

In addition to the Coastal Brigade, other Defence Forces units and other authorities also use the training area. The area is in training unit use about 60 days/year.

The biggest exercises organised are field training exercises conducted by formations. The biggest exercises are held in March and September.

The area is managed by the Coastal Brigade training branch tel. +358-299 800 (operator), which is also responsible for its use. More specific information regarding firing activities conducted in the training areas is available in the firing notices on the Defence Forces website.

Miessaari - Espoo

Miessaari is situated in the area of the City of Espoo. The Miessaari training area comprises land and water areas.

During training or exercises, movement in the area requires a special authorisation.

In addition to the Coastal Brigade, other Defence Forces units and other authorities also use the training area. The area is in training unit use about 30 days/year.

The biggest exercises organised are field training exercises conducted by formations. The biggest exercises are held in June and December.

Russarö - Hanko

The Russarö firing range area off the coast of Hanko comprises land and water areas. Movement in the area requires a special authorisation.

In addition to the Coastal Brigade, other Defence Forces units and other authorities also use the firing range area. The firing ranges are in training unit use about 100 days/year.

The biggest exercises organised are field training exercises conducted by formations and/or regional field training exercises. The biggest exercises are held in June and December.

Live-fire exercises using mainly various infantry weapons and artillery weapons are conducted in the area

Syndalen

The Syndalen firing range and training area is situated in Hanko in a state-owned area. Metsähallitus, as the manager of state-owned land, has rented the area to the Defence Forces to serve as a firing range and training area. All in all, the area is about 1,900 hectares, comprising a 1,500-hectare firing range and a 400-hectare field training area in the northern part of the area.

The entire firing range is marked with blue and white paint on trees and prohibition signs placed on the side of the roads. However, there are several target areas that are not specifically marked. It is worth noting that the firings danger area sometimes extends to the border of the marked area.

Use

On the roads leading to the area, there are permanent guard posts and fixed barriers. In addition to the permanent guard posts and fixed barriers, the Safety Officer may order a necessary number of extra guards and temporary barriers. Usually, live-fire exercises require two to four permanent guard posts.

The area is used about 280 days per year, including 160 days when firing takes place. Civilians do not have free access to the firing range and training area.

Uusimaa Brigade is the main user of the area. Other users include, for example, other brigade-level units of the Navy, the National Defence University, the Guard Jaeger Regiment, the National Defence Training Association of Finland and other authorities.

Live firing

In Syndalen, combat, detonating and firing are trained with almost all of the types of infantry weapons and weapon systems used in the Navy. Almost all of the types of the Defence Forces’ wheeled vehicles and various armoured vehicles and work machines are in use. Occasionally, exercises also involve helicopters, aircraft and other aerial devices, drones, for example.

Syndalen is mainly used for:

• Conducting live-fire exercises as part of the training of wartime forces

• Conducting field training exercises and training events for troops

Firing ranges

The ranges in the Syndalen firing range and training area are for basic marksmanship training with small calibre weapons, competition shooting training, shooting competitions, and subcalibre training weapon firing.

Contact information

Nyland Brigade is the main user of the Syndalen area and responsible for its management. If you wish to report noise disturbance in the area, please contact the Uusimaa Brigade HQ Training Section, tel. +358 (0)299 33 1711 and +358 (0)299 33 1700.

• Safety Officer during firings tel. +358 (0)299 33 1751.

[email protected]

Upinniemi, Mäkiluoto, Rönnskär, Järvö - Kirkkonummi

The Upinniemi firing range area which belongs to Upinniemi Garrison comprises land and water areas. The firing range areas of Mäkiluoto and Rönnskär are situated off the Peninsula of Porkkala.

Movement in these areas requires a special authorisation.

In addition to the Coastal Brigade, other Defence Forces units and other authorities also use the firing range areas. The firing ranges are in training unit use about 220–250 days/year.

The biggest exercises organised are field training exercises conducted by formations and/or regional field training exercises. The biggest exercises are held in June and December.

Live-fire exercises using mainly various infantry weapons and artillery weapons are conducted in the area.

No live-fire exercises are conducted in the Järvö training area (off the Porkkala Peninsula). The area is in Defence Forces training use.

The area is managed by the Coastal Brigade training branch tel. +358 (0)299 800 (operator), which is also responsible for its use. More specific information regarding firing activities conducted in the training areas is available in the firing notices on the Defence Forces website.

Vanhankylänmaa/Mustamaa - Kotka/Hamina

The Vanhankylänmaa and Mustamaa training areas are situated in areas of the towns of Kotka and Hamina. The training areas comprise land and water areas.

During training or exercises, movement in the area requires a special authorisation.

In addition to the Coastal Brigade, other Defence Forces units and other authorities also use the training area. The area is in training unit use about 60 days/year.

The biggest exercises organised are field training exercises conducted by formations. The biggest exercises are held in June and December.