Executive Summary

NATO’s first major artillery drills in Finland, conducted under the Dynamic Front exercise series, mark a strategic milestone following Finland’s recent accession to the alliance. The exercise involved 3,600 troops and 1,000 military vehicles operating in Finland’s Arctic region, just 100 kilometers from the Russian border. This proximity underscores NATO’s intent to demonstrate its readiness and resolve amidst the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Coordinated exercises across Estonia, Germany, Romania, and Poland, involving a total of 5,000 personnel, further reflect NATO’s commitment to bolstering collective readiness and interoperability. The exercise underscores NATO’s broader strategy to modernize its arsenal, strengthen its eastern posture, and project deterrence against aggression. Dynamic Front showcases NATO’s enhanced readiness and solidarity, it also highlights the complexities of modern deterrence, requiring careful navigation to balance military strength with diplomatic efforts to prevent escalation and maintain regional stability.

Backgrounder

NATO recently conducted its first major artillery drills in Finland following the country’s accession to the alliance, signaling a significant shift in regional military dynamics. The Dynamic Front exercise, NATO’s largest artillery training operation in Europe, involved over 3,600 troops and 1,000 military vehicles deployed in Finland’s Arctic region. The drills took place at one of Europe’s most expansive firing ranges, covering 1,200 square kilometers and situated less than 100 kilometers from the Russian border. This location underscores the strategic intent of the exercise, widely interpreted as a message to Russia amid its ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

Military Analysis

Artillery Reinforcement: The exercise, held at Finland’s Rovajärvi training ground near its 1,330-mile border with Russia, underscores NATO’s focus on “defensive operations” as a core strategy for bolstering its eastern flank. This emphasis has driven expanded training missions and the U.S. military’s increased presence in Europe. A pivotal development has been the reinforcement of European forces with artillery units, addressing a critical gap left by years of troop reductions. Finland possesses the second-largest artillery capability in Europe, ranking just behind Poland.

Interoperability Boost: Dynamic Front provides an ideal platform for participating forces to test and deploy new equipment in operational scenarios. The event marked the first of a series of NATO exercises across Europe, aimed at improving interoperability and readiness among member nations, extending from the Arctic Circle to the Black Sea. These upgrades are integral to a broader effort to modernize NATO’s artillery systems and boost operational effectiveness.

Artillery Modernisation: The LS24 (likely short for LIVEX 2024, a type of live military exercise) being part of the Dynamic Front series underscores NATO’s focus on modernizing and strengthening joint artillery capabilities across its member states. During LS24, secure digital channels enable seamless coordination among national units under the Allied Rapid Reaction Corps (ARCC), NATO’s rapid response force. Artillery platform selection prioritizes battlefield impact over nationality. Central to this effort is the Artillery Systems Cooperation Activities (ASCA), NATO’s encrypted communication backbone, which synchronizes artillery systems with command functions for real-time data sharing. This year, a record 15 nations integrated ASCA, enhancing interoperability and streamlining operations across diverse systems.

Arctic Arsenal: NATO and the U.S. deployed over 130 weapon systems during the exercise, including the Archer FH77, K9 Thunder, CAESAR, M777 and M119 howitzers, and the M270 MLRS. The exercise marked the Arctic debut of the upgraded M270A1 system, now capable of deploying the Precision Strike Missile, underscoring NATO’s advanced artillery capabilities. Key assets included the U.S. Army’s modernized M270A2 multiple rocket launcher, enhanced through Lockheed Martin’s M270 MLRS recapitalization program. Upgrades to the M270A2 include a 600-horsepower engine, an armored crew cabin for enhanced survivability, and the advanced Common Fire Control System (CFCS), significantly boosting operational precision and effectiveness.

Advanced System: The British Army conducted the first live firing of its next-generation Archer Mobile Howitzer during NATO’s large-scale artillery exercise in Finland. This advanced system, acquired from Sweden last year, features a fully automated gun capable of firing over eight rounds per minute at ranges up to 50 km. In its debut live exercise, the Archer demonstrated impressive rapid deployment capabilities under demanding conditions. The exercise also showcased the TAIPAN enemy artillery detection radar and the UK’s Multiple Launch Rocket System, which can fire 12 rockets or missiles in less than a minute.

Operational Assessment

The exercise is designed to accelerate the operational tempo by shortening the “kill chain,” minimizing the time required to transition from target identification to engagement. This approach reflects lessons drawn from Russian tactics in Ukraine, emphasizing the critical need for seamless integration between command systems, unmanned aerial platforms, and artillery units to enhance efficiency and responsiveness on the battlefield.

The UK’s involvement in the exercise reflects its “NATO first” defense strategy, prioritizing European security and committing 2.5% of GDP to defense. This aligns with the UK’s recent defense roadmap agreement with Estonia, which includes maintaining thousands of UK troops at high readiness and boosting cooperation on long-range missile development and air defense capabilities.

For NATO, these artillery exercises demonstrate the alliance’s commitment to defending its northern flank, particularly the Baltic states, which are seen as vulnerable to Russian aggression. The interoperability among NATO members (especially with Finland now part of the alliance) strengthens collective defense capabilities.

Impact assessment

• The exercise’s location, close to the Russian border, sends a strong signal to Russia amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, highlighting NATO’s readiness and solidarity in strengthening its eastern defense posture.
• Dynamic Front 25 coinciding with Ukraine’s 1,000th day of conflict underscores NATO’s emphasis on deterrence and operational readiness. The exercise also signals Finland’s increasingly significant role within the alliance, showcasing its capability to host and manage large-scale military operations effectively.
• The commander of the U.S. 56th Artillery Regiment highlighted that Russia’s strategy in Ukraine relies heavily on long-range artillery, supported by advanced air defense systems. To counter this, he stressed the critical need for NATO nations to maintain continuous training as a cohesive multinational artillery force, ensuring the effectiveness of combined arms operations.
• The increasing military investments by both NATO and Russia raise concerns about a potential long-term arms race in Europe. Russia’s substantial allocation of around 40% of its budget to military and security emphasizes the gravity of the situation. In response, NATO is likely to focus on modernizing its arsenals, increasing defense spending, and prioritizing advanced systems such as missiles and cyber capabilities. Meanwhile, Russia may counter with asymmetric strategies or nuclear modernization. This evolving dynamic suggests prolonged defense posturing, potential economic strain, and shifts in the global military balance.
• Russia’s military doctrine has a heavy reliance on nuclear weapons for deterrence, especially as its conventional forces struggle against NATO’s technological advantages. Increased NATO military presence may accelerate Russian discussions on tactical nuclear weapons deployments in its westernmost regions as a countermeasure.
• NATO’s expansion and military drills near Russia’s borders are likely to deepen Russia’s partnership with China. This alignment could manifest in joint military exercises, advanced technology sharing, and stronger economic ties, especially in energy. Moreover, China’s Arctic ambitions align with Russia’s strategic goals, reinforcing their collaboration.
• Nations in Central Asia and the Caucasus may feel pressured to align more closely with Russia in opposition to NATO’s military presence in Europe. While these alliances may not equate to direct military pacts like NATO, they represent an expanded sphere of influence where Russia will seek to secure military support or at least neutrality from its allies.

Recommendations

• Highlight shared security challenges to maintain cohesion among NATO members and sustain political support for increased defense spending.
• Develop partnerships with nations in Central Asia and the Caucasus. Promote infrastructure development, economic incentives, and security cooperation to encourage neutrality or alignment with NATO.
• Leverage Finland’s experience in Arctic warfare and total defense strategies, incorporating these lessons into NATO doctrine to enhance the alliance’s resilience against hybrid and conventional threats.
• Re-engage in arms control and confidence-building measures with Russia to mitigate the risk of an arms race. Focus on frameworks for conventional and nuclear de-escalation while maintaining credible deterrence.
• Collaborate with NATO on Arctic-specific strategies, leveraging Finland’s geography to prepare for potential conflicts in the region. Promote peaceful multilateral Arctic cooperation.

Conclusion

The Dynamic Front artillery exercise in Finland represents a significant shift in NATO’s strategic approach, underscoring its response to Europe’s evolving security challenges. Finland’s integration bolsters NATO’s northern and eastern defenses, utilizing its advanced artillery and Arctic expertise to strengthen collective readiness. The exercise showcases NATO’s focus on modernization, interoperability, and lessons from the Ukraine conflict. However, the increased military presence near Russia’s borders highlights the fine line between deterrence and escalation, sending a strong message to Russia but potentially fueling arms races and geopolitical tensions. NATO’s expansion also risks reinforcing Russia-China ties and deepening regional polarization in areas like Central Asia and the Arctic. To sustain its advantage, NATO must balance unity and modernization with diplomacy to mitigate escalation, promote Arctic stability, and address broader geopolitical implications. The Dynamic Front exercise serves as both a testament to NATO’s strength and a reminder of the complexities of modern deterrence strategies.