By GB News (World News) | Created at 2024-11-21 13:28:05 | Updated at 2024-11-24 03:21:19
2 days ago
The British Army has fired its next-generation howitzer for the first time in what's been hailed Nato's largest artillery exercise ever carried out in Europe.
Hundreds of British soldiers were on the ground in Finland, where they joined troops from 28 Nato allies for a freezing first demonstration of the "battle-winning" Archer Mobile Howitzer.
The live firing came as part of Exercise Lightning Strike - itself, part of Dynamic Front 25 - and just 70 miles from the Russian border.
In total, 3,600 soldiers, including around 1,250 international troops from the alliance, are set to be involved in the war drills taking place near Rovaniemi in Finland.
Pictured: The Archer Mobile Howitzer fires in Finland
MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
350 Army personnel joined soldiers from 28 countries in the Nato exercise
MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
Dramatic images from the MoD showed the howitzer's first live firing
MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
The howitzers can fire more than eight rounds per minute at a range of 50km
MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
Finland became the first country to join the alliance following Russia's February 2022 invasion of Ukraine
GB NEWS
It allows for "multi-sided tactical fire exchanges for field artillery" while training personnel how to handle the challenging conditions and terrain of the Arctic, Makitalo added.
While British Armed Forces Minister Luke Pollard said: "The successful live firing of the powerful Archer Mobile Howitzer shows we are equipping our Armed Forces with the latest battle-winning weaponry to help keep the UK secure at home and strong abroad.
"This joint exercise reiterates our unshakeable commitment to Nato and demonstrates our collective readiness to meet emerging threats and deter aggression across Europe."
Temperatures plummeted to -3 degrees Celsius just outside the Arctic Circle in Finland
MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
Armed Forces Minister Luke Pollard hailed the first live firing of the 'battle-winning weaponry'
MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
This is the first time Finland has hosted a major international military exercise since Nato's 31st member in April 2023, a little over a year after Vladimir Putin launched his so-called "special military operation" in Ukraine.
Joining the bloc ended decades of Finnish neutrality - and more than doubled the length of Nato's land border with Russia, having previously only touched the country in Norway and the Baltics.
Finland had upheld a strictly non-aligned status since the end of World War II so it could maintain cordial relations with Russia - but abandoned this after the Ukraine war started.
