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Brig. Gen. Ari Laaksonen, commander of the Kainuu Brigade, welcomes community members and Allied troops during an outreach event in support of Saber Strike at Kajaani Airfield on May 18, 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 Staff Sgt. Alexander Kelly)
| Date Taken: | 05.17.2026 |
| Date Posted: | 05.18.2026 17:11 |
| Photo ID: | 9692248 |
| VIRIN: | 260518-A-XV597-1192 |
| Resolution: | 6384x4258 |
| Size: | 2.46 MB |
| Location: | KAJAANI, FI |
| Web Views: | 7 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Communtiy outreach in support of Saber Strike [Image 7 of 7], by SSG Alexander Kelly, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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