Sweden to hosts live-fire HIMARS and MLRS drills as part of NATO’s Swift Response 25

Sweden’s island of Gotland will be the site of live-fire exercises involving HIMARS and MLRS artillery systems as part of Swift Response 25, a NATO exercise running from May 11 to 31.

According to the Swedish Armed Forces' announcement, this will mark the first time these rocket systems are fired with live munitions on Gotland during such a drill, Caliber.Az reports.

The exercise will involve Swedish military personnel alongside units from the United States and the United Kingdom.

Five airborne operations are scheduled throughout the exercise, which aims to train the rapid deployment and integration of allied forces in response to potential crisis situations.

A key component of Swift Response 25 is Hedgehog 2025, Estonia’s largest military exercise since the country regained independence in 1991. More than 16,000 troops from around a dozen NATO member states are taking part. It includes the deployment of standing NATO forces already present in the area, as well as reinforcements from readiness units based in countries such as the United Kingdom and France.

Sweden is participating with its 71st Battalion from the South Scanian Regiment (P 7), which has been stationed in Latvia since January as part of NATO’s multinational brigade. During the exercise, the battalion is moving to Estonia and will be integrated into an Estonian brigade. Together with allied forces, they are training to defend Estonia’s eastern border.

Swedish Home Guard personnel are also involved. A reinforced platoon from the 414th Home Guard Intelligence Company, based in the Gothenburg area, is joining a Danish unit and will train alongside U.S. National Guard and Estonian forces in northeastern Estonia. This marks the first time Swedish Home Guard troops are participating in a NATO exercise on Estonian territory.

While participating forces are training under realistic conditions, the stated objective of the exercises is to improve coordination, enhance interoperability, and strengthen readiness across NATO’s eastern flank.

By Tamilla Hasanova