The experiences from the war in Ukraine affect every detail, even how the soldiers sleep.
Stove-heated tents are no longer practical, as they are so easy to detect with heat-sensitive drones. Now the soldiers have to sleep in their vehicles, in simple patrol tents next to the vehicles, or seek out buildings where they can hide.
Ukrainian drone pilots flown in straight from the war gave lectures on the first evening when the exercise got underway at Revingehed in Skåne.
“Very generous”
"It has been like this all these years - they are very generous in sharing their experiences. They want us to become better," says Vice Admiral Ewa Skoog Haslum, Chief of the Armed Forces' Operations Command.
The command systems are crucial for how quickly you can share the situational picture within a brigade. It's about how quickly the brigade commander can reach the marksman and vice versa, she emphasizes.
"There are great lessons that have been drawn from Ukraine, which are now being implemented here," says Ewa Skoog Haslum.
Testing new technology
The Southern Skåne Regiment (P 7) is building a brigade, but it will not be ready until 2030. This has provided an opportunity to test new technology on behalf of the army commander, especially regarding digital command systems.
"I want my brigade to be relevant in 2030–2035. Then I want to be at the forefront," says brigade commander Annelie Olausson.
During Aurora 26, for example, P 7 is testing civilian technology to retrieve internet connections from satellites. Good mobile coverage has become crucial, as radio is no longer the primary means of communication.
Increased survival
To create a more realistic training environment based on the experiences gained from Ukraine, personnel from the Swedish Defence Research Institute (FOI) are also on site. They are introducing elements of telewarfare.
"One is that we should protect our own communications and the other is that we should influence the opponent's communications," explains Jonas Nordlöf, operations manager at FOI.
During the exercise, how the units appear in the air is evaluated - how easy they are to detect.
Some units may have their reception disrupted so they suddenly hear nothing, training them on how to act.
"Being as good as possible at this will increase survivability for the soldiers and units," says Jonas Nordlöf.
Facts: Aurora 26
Aurora 26 is the largest military exercise of the year, involving units from twelve other nations.
It will be held from April 27 to May 13 across Sweden, with a focus on southern Sweden and Gotland.
The Armed Forces describe the exercise as "a dress rehearsal of our new national operational plans as a NATO ally."
This includes host country support, i.e. receiving, protecting and exercising with foreign units, as well as practicing cooperation with other countries.
Approximately 16,000 Swedish soldiers and sailors are participating together with 1,700 foreign soldiers.
Source: Swedish Armed Forces
