Baltops 2019

BALTOPS is an annual maritime exercise held in the Baltic Sea region under the command of the Naval Striking and Support Force NATO (STRIKFORNATO). This is the 47th time the exercise is organised. Finland has participated in the exercise since 1993. Participation in the exercise has been part of sail training since 2012.

Finland will participate in the exercise with minelayer Hämeenmaa as part of the Naval Academy’s sail training. Baltops 2019 will provide Navy cadets with an opportunity to familiarise themselves with multinational cooperation. Finland will take part in the Baltops Pre Sail Conference and the training phase Combat Enhancement Training - Force Integration Training (CET/FIT).

Minelayer Hämeenmaa will operate in the Joint Expeditionary Force Maritime, JEF(M) under the command of Great Britain. In addition to the Finnish minelayer and British vessels, the JEF(M) will also comprise vessels from Sweden, Denmark and Norway.

Units from Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Germany, United States, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Holland, Turkey, Great Britain, Canada, Belgium, Romania, Spain, Portugal and France will take part in all of the exercise.