Bold Quest 19.1: Fire is a Joint Resource

The Finnish Navy kicked off its Bold Quest 19.1 activities on Monday 13 May 2019. The Navy-related events of Bold Quest will be executed in the Navy Command and in the Coastal Fleet. In Bold Quest 19.1 the Finnish Navy will be developing and authenticating the interoperability and compatibility of information systems, and train in the use of fires as part of the Finnish Defence Forces’ joint fires and target acquisition process.

Part of the interoperability testing of information systems, the Navy will provide the national Recognised Maritime Picture for the duration of the event. The event also builds prerequisites, for example, for the use of a future capability, Anti-Ship Missile 2020 in various tasks within the Finnish Defence Forces. With the new missile, the Navy’s long-range fire capability can also reach land targets if necessary.

The Finnish Defence Forces’ joint fires and targeting processes are as such compatible in a combined, international, setting. International cooperation in training and development add value also to the Navy’s fires capability. The international interoperability of command systems improves the Navy’s ability to provide host nation support, and particularly its facilities for receiving international aid. Bold Quest also supports the execution of bilateral cooperation between Finland and Sweden.

Accuracy and Efficiency

The joint fires and target acquisition process that are being developed will improve the usability, efficiency and accuracy of the Navy’s vessels and other firing units.

The Director of the Navy’s training events, Captain Juha Ravanti says, that coordinating and combining joint fires requires a common, digitally created situation picture, fast responses and a clear chain of command. In addition to ensuring the compatibility of information systems, you have to ensure that people understand how the systems work, what their operating procedures and language skills are.

- Another important factor along with language skills is the use of common and standardised terminology, Ravanti adds.

As a result of the development done now, a Finnish coastal infantry forward observer can for example determine a target at sea from an island, and effects can be brought on the target with both Finnish and partner fires seamlessly and without delay. Correspondingly, if the situation calls for it, an army forward observer can identify a target on the coast and the fires may be used from vessels at sea.

The multinational, joint fires Capability Demonstration and Assessment Event Bold Quest 19.1 will be executed in a number of locations around Finland a 6–24 May 2019. Joint fires capabilities for varying distances can be found in the Army, the Navy and the Air Force.

The joint fires and target acquisition process that are being developed will improve the usability, efficiency and accuracy of the Navy’s vessels and other firing units.