FNS Uusimaa to be evaluated during the Noble Mariner exercise
FNS Uusimaa will participate in the Noble Mariner 16 exercise in October. The exercise is held in Irish and British territorial waters. A great part of the exercise troops will consist of reservists. During the exercise the vessel will undergo a NATO Evaluation Level 2 (NEL2).
Finland participates in the Noble Mariner 16 exercise in order to get FNS Uusimaa’s capability and know-how level confirmed within NATO’s force evaluation programme, so that it can be integrated into the NATO Response Force (NRF) pool of troops to be on standby during 2017.
During the exercise the level of our know-how will be evaluated, and in addition to that, we will learn from other countries in order to be able to improve our capabilities.
- During the exercise we aim at developing and improving our own skills through the experience we gain in an international setting. One central objective is to showcase the high level of know-how that the Finnish Navy vessels and personnel have, to the other participants, explains the Chief of Staff of the Coastal Fleet, commander Janne Muurinen.
As the activity level of the Finnish Defence Forces has now been returned after the Defence Forces Reform, it will this time be possible for more than 30 reservists to participate in the Noble Mariner exercise.
- The national defence will of the reservists is very high - most of those who were ordered to this refresher training were really eager to participate, says commander Muurinen.
Evaluation part of the NRF readiness in 2017
The NATO Evaluation Level 2 will start already before the actual exercise begins, with interviews and practical evaluations that do not need to be carried out at sea. However, the main part of the evaluation will take place during the operational phase of the exercise. The evaluation will be carried out by evaluators and specialist approved by the NATO Operational Capability Concept Evaluation & Feedback programme, OCC E&F.
- These evaluation standards are the only internationally approved military standards that there are. The results of the evaluation will present a picture of the vessels operability during a possible operation, as it participates in the NRF-pool, explains Muurinen.
FNS Uusimaa underwent its previous NEL2 evaluation in 2012 and was then approved for operations. The evaluation is valid for four years, if the vessel doesn’t participate in any NATO-led operations during that time. This is the reason why a new evaluation is now carried out, before the NRF readiness in 2017.
As a member of the partnership program, Finland has taken part in the NRF cooperation for many years already. The aim of the participation is to develop the capabilities, interoperability and credibility of the Finnish Defence Forces.
- The objective of our participation in the NRF is to improve the vessel unit’s capability and our readiness to plan and command operations in an international setting. The participation is part of our efforts to develop our military crisis management activities, but it is also beneficial to our efforts to improve our national defines, Muurinen emphasizes.
Participating in the NRF does not automatically mean that Finland will take part in NATO-led operations. Participation in any possible operations must always be based on a decision made by Finland’s political leaders.
