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The maritime live fire exercise Formidable Shield takes place on and off Andøya in Northern Norway from May 5th to 10th.

The exercise is focused on defense against air and missile threats and involves close integration of naval, air and land forces.

In total, about 2,500 soldiers from Norway, Denmark, the UK, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Italy, Canada and the United States are participating; most of them aboard naval vessels.

"Formidable Shield is one of NATO's most important deterrence exercises this year, and also Europe's largest at-sea live-fire exercise in 2025," Sergeant Jonny Karlsen, spokesperson at the Norwegian Joint Headquarters, informs High North News.

"The war in Ukraine shows the significance of integrated air and missile defense (IAMD) to protect the airspace. By extension, this joint IAMD exercise is very important for Norway and our allies," says Karlsen, and continues:

"Control over the airspace is also crucial for the reception of allied forces. The week after Formidable Shield, US Army paratroopers will jump over Northern Norway during the exercise Swift Response, part of Defender 2025. In a real conflict situation, such a jump will not be possible without good protection against air threats."

Complex

Formidable Shield is organized biennially with the aim of strengthening allied interoperability within NATO’s concept of integrated air and missile defense

The exercise is led by the US Sixth Fleet and STRIKFORNATO, which is NATO's premier maritime battle-staff and the alliance's primary link for integrating US maritime forces into NATO operations.

The activity includes a series of live-fire events against unmanned air and surface systems simulating subsonic, supersonic, and ballistic targets. This specifically involves naval and land forces.

From land, live fire will be carried out with the air defense systems NASAMS and NOMAD, as well as the artillery rocket system HIMARS. F-35 fighter jets and P-8 maritime patrol aircraft will also be involved in the exercise.

Norway is hosting the exercise together with the UK in the same way as in 2021 and 2023. Like previously, the first phase of the exercise will take place at the Andøya firing range, before it continues at the Hebrides firing range off the coast of Scotland.

“Critical for refining IAMD capabilities”

“There is simply no substitute for the training and learning that occurs when we operate in these intensely realistic scenarios,” says Capt. Michael Dwan, Commander of Task Group 64, US Naval Forces Europe and Africa/US Sixth Fleet.

He is also STRIKFORNATO’s US Maritime Ballistic Missile Defense Assets Advisor.

“Training as a collective using NATO command and control reporting structure forges the bonds of interoperability and strengthens the alliance as a whole. Exercises like Formidable Shield are critical for refining our collective integrated air and missile defense capabilities, ensuring we can respond effectively to any threat from any direction and maintain a credible deterrent posture,” Dwan continues.

This is invaluable training, confirms Cmdr. Welmer Veenstra, Commanding Officer of the Dutch frigate HNLMS De Ruyter – which serves as the command ship for the exercise.

“Operating together is not just a practice, it's the foundation of our shared security. Exercises like Formidable Shield ensure our forces stay sharp, adaptable, and credible,” Veenstra points out.

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