U.S. Soldiers with 1-214th Aviation Regiment (General Support Aviation Battalion), 12th Combat Aviation Brigade, fly Boeing CH-47 Chinooks in a staggered formation over the Nordic region, May 8, 2026. Four Chinooks traveled from Germany to Finland to take part in Exercise Saber Strike 2026. From April 27 to May 31, 2026 U.S. and Allied forces will exercise NATO’s Eastern Flank Deterrence Initiative, demonstrating NATO’s ability to fight and win on the modern battlefield. Nearly 15,000 troops from eleven nations will train across the High North, Baltic region, and Poland, executing rapid maneuvers, air defense, counter-drone operations, and cyber defense to validate NATO’s regional defense plans in real time. This series of linked exercises, including Saber Strike, Immediate Response, and Swift Response, turns investment into capability. Soldiers integrate unmanned systems, AI-enabled command and control, and live data networks to move faster, decide faster, and fight more effectively across all domains. Sword 26 demonstrates how U.S. Army Europe and Africa drives transformation at scale while strengthening deterrence. Together with our Allies, we are building a unified, lethal force ready to defend NATO territory and respond to any threat. (U.S. Army Reserve photo by Sgt. Addison Shinn)
| Date Taken: | 05.08.2026 |
| Date Posted: | 05.11.2026 10:03 |
| Photo ID: | 9675736 |
| VIRIN: | 260508-A-AE781-2582 |
| Resolution: | 5642x3761 |
| Size: | 1.05 MB |
| Location: | FI |
| Web Views: | 5 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, 12 CAB arrives to Finland for Saber Strike [Image 15 of 15], by SGT Addison Shinn, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.