Nordic Response 24: UK Commandos train to defend frozen terrain against invasion

Nato's largest Arctic exercise in a generation – supported by the UK Commando Force – is training thousands of troops from 13 countries to fight back against threats to democracy and borders.

Twenty thousand troops and hundreds of vehicles from across Nato, supported by members of the Royal Marines, British Army Commandos and the Commando Helicopter Force, have been deployed to Norway for Nordic Response 24 which runs until 15 March.

"We need to be able to fight back and stop anyone who tries to challenge our borders, values and democracy," said the Norwegian armed forces.

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"At Nordic Response 2024, we train on defending and protecting the Nordic region and our territories.

"With the current security situation in Europe, the exercise is extremely relevant and more important than ever before."

The UK has also thrown its weight behind Exercise Steadfast Defender, of which Nordic Response is a part. The mission is also closely connected to the UK-led naval exercise Joint Warrior.

British forces had been preparing for months for Nordic Response, which takes place in one of the world's most inhospitable environments.

Temperatures can drop as low as -50°C and the region is known to have polar nights where the sun doesn't rise.

A key element of Nordic Response will be the development of the skills required to fight and survive in the Arctic terrain in the event of the Nordic countries being invaded by a hostile power.

The exercise sees personnel from Norway, the UK, the US, Finland, Sweden and Germany take part in both land and naval exercises.

Around 110 aircraft and 50 vessels will take part, along with several civilian organisations in Finland, Norway and Sweden.

For the UK, the mission will test the troops' ability to lead highly capable international task groups to launch air strikes, carry out anti-submarine warfare (ASW) missions using Merlin helicopters and provide integrated air and sea defence against possible threats.

During the Cold War, Nato regularly practised exercises that involved troops being deployed to Germany and Norway.

Steadfast Defender and Nordic Response continue this tradition in the face of Russian aggression in Ukraine.