Aurora 23 is the largest national exercise in more than 25 years, with around 26,000 participants. The exercise will take place in the air, on the ground and at sea. Upplands Air Wing F16 is one of several Swedish units participating to train the air defense – the air force and the air defense – against attacks. Something that is led from the Uppsala garrison.
"The exercise is dynamic and exactly when flights will take place in Uppsala depends on what decisions the Air Force Chief makes," says Anna Siverstig, exercise leader for the air defence, who explains that exercises will also take place at night. But it is mainly in southern Sweden – and on and around Gotland – that the exercise will be noticed.
Practicing with other countries
Aurora 23 will be arranged together with Finland, which is an integral part of the Swedish air defence, but also with the US, Poland and the UK, which are partners of Sweden.
The Armed Forces exercise Aurora 23 will take place between 17 April and 11 May 2023.
More about Uppsala's participation in the exercise in the video above.