The main focus for Aurora 2023 with 26,000 participants is in the southern parts of Sweden. For Norrbotten, it is also taking place at the old air base Kalixfors, one mile outside Kiruna.
"More grounded in reality"
Here it is the Home Guard in the Lapland Jaeger Group that exercises as part of the large-scale exercise. Johan Björnström from Kiruna, who has been involved since 2010, notes a large influx to the Home Guard and a greater focus on the exercises.
"It's more resources and more grounded in reality," he says
U.S. special forces participate
This week, soldiers from US special forces will also be seen participating in the exercise and helping with training. Later this week, parts of the Norwegian Home Guard will also join to train together with the Swedish for the first time.
The idea is that there will be greater international elements at the base in the future. It is also part of the background to the exercise.
"Among other things, it's about preparing Sweden for how we should act in a new NATO role," says Anders Lindberg, press officer during the exercise, and everyday press officer at LKAB.
See the exercise with gas masks
The scenario involves defending the air base and preventing an imaginary enemy from using the runway. During the day, it was a lot about being able to act during a gas attack, being able to shoot and put bandages on yourself with a gas mask on.
In the clip, we take a look at the exercise and hear Anders Lindberg about the conditions.
Anders Lindberg, press officer at LKAB, is the press officer during the exercise at the old Kalixfors air base outside Kiruna. Photo: Hans Sternlund/SVT