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Finland hosts COLD BLADE 2016

29th March 2016 - 11:53 GMT | by Shephard News Team

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The Finnish defence forces hosted exercise COLD BLADE 2016 at Ivalo airbase in Finland, the European Defence Agency announced in late March. A total of 290 hours were flown on 156 missions in the exercise.

The exercise saw participation from three member states – Finland, Sweden and Germany – as well as ten European helicopters, which included two CH-53GA Sea Stallions, one MD500 light utility helicopter and seven NH-90 multirole helicopters. The survival training was attended by Italian forces.

The exercise focused on testing the aircrew and helicopter, flying in demanding white-out conditions, and teaching and learning the technics, tactics and procedures in a cold and snowy environment.

During the first week of the exercise, Germany and Finland executed individual training, qualifying helicopter loadmasters and pilots in white-out landings and navigation skills. During the second week, night-time formation flights were flown with Finnish NH-90 and German CH-53GA helicopters.