By Kontur | 2025-10-28

KOUVOLA -- In 2025, the fields and forests around Utti -- an eastern Finnish garrison town less than 100 kilometers (62 miles) from the Russian border -- have seen an unusual amount of traffic: American aircraft, Finnish special operators and a steady rotation of joint drills built around Arctic conditions.

Finland's first year in NATO has brought the two militaries into close, regular training -- work that doubles as a signal of deterrence in a region Moscow watches closely.

These Florin Fossil exercises, held in January, June and September, show how quickly Finland has folded into the alliance's routines and how deliberately NATO is positioning itself to respond to threats in the High North.

Run by the US Air Force's 352d Special Operations Wing and Finland's Utti Jaeger Regiment, the drills focus on airborne operations -- static-line jumps, free-fall inserts, refueling runs and cargo drops -- carried out just miles from the Russian frontier.

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Exercise focus areas

The Florin Fossil exercises, organized by the US Air Force's 352d Special Operations Wing (352d SOW) in collaboration with Finland's Utti Jaeger Regiment special operations forces, focus on practicing airborne operations, including parachute jumps, forward area refueling and cargo drops.

https://www.mildenhall.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/4064260/352nd-sow-finnish-utti-jaeger-regiment-strengthen-natos-interoperability-in-aus/

In January, the training took place amid wintry Finnish weather, with near-freezing temperatures and light snowfall, testing forces in realistic austere environments.

Participants, Finnish special operators and an American MC-130J Commando II crew, practiced static-line jumps, military free falls (high-altitude high-opening and high-altitude low-opening), and the integration of digital force protection involving a US Space Force guardian.

https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/4064260/352nd-sow-finnish-utti-jaeger-regiment-strengthen-natos-interoperability-in-aus/

"We've worked with the Finnish military before, but this is the first time with the Utti Jaegers since Finland joined NATO," noted the 352d SOW mission commander.

"American forces are proficient in airdrops, and the Utti Jaegers are experts in extreme cold environments. We're combining our experience to achieve the best results."

In September, the exercises expanded: they included participation from the US Army's 10th Special Forces Group (Green Berets), refueling of Finnish NH90 helicopters using Forward Area Refueling Point (FARP) by the 100th Air Refueling Wing, as well as night jumps and cargo drops, such as snowmobiles.

Activities took place over historical sites like the 550-year-old Olavinlinna Castle in Savonlinna, emphasizing cultural and strategic integration.

"Each time we work together, it's like plug-and-play; even if the crew changes, the process remains the same," shared a Finnish SOF operator from the Utti Jaeger Regiment. "At first, it felt like two different groups, but now we're operating as one team."

Deterrence against threats

These exercises enhance skills and demonstrate NATO's ability for seamless operations in complex environments.

This comes amid Russia's escalating hybrid warfare tactics against Finland, including GPS signal jamming that disrupts aviation and shipping in the Baltic Sea and near the eastern border, forcing Finland to develop alternative navigation systems and collaborate with NATO allies on countermeasures.

Utti, located near Kouvola, is a key region where Russia has traditionally shown interest.

The exercises underscore assurance for allies and deterrence against potential threats, especially amid Moscow's ongoing aggression in Ukraine.

As the mission commander noted: "We're building personal and professional relationships to standardize operations in the future."

In the context of growing challenges in the High North, where Russia is bolstering its military presence, Florin Fossil confirms: NATO is ready to defend its members.

"We must be prepared with combat-credible capabilities to assure, deter, defend, and prevail in a complex security environment," summarize USSOCEUR officials.

These exercises are a step toward closer integration, showing Russian-speaking residents in border areas that the alliance stands firmly for the region's stability and prosperity.