MLRS battalion delivers long range fires with NATO allies in Norway during exercise

SETERMOEN, Norway — U.S. Soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 6th Field Artillery Regiment, 41st Field Artillery Brigade recently participated in Joint Viking 25, a Norwegian-led, multinational exercise that strengthened the U.S. Army’s long-range fire capabilities in the Arctic and enhanced interoperability among NATO allies.

Joint Viking 25 not only strengthened the readiness of the U.S. Army, but it served as a proof of concept for international fires integration at every echelon.

“We were able to successfully integrate from a multinational observer up on a hill-be it German, Norwegian, or American-all the way down through our federated communication fires system,” said Lt. Col. Benjamin Roark, commander of 1-6 FAR. “From the Norwegian fire control system to the American system, and all the way down to our launchers, we showed we can effectively shoot our way to success with a truly multinational and integrated digital fires system. It showed and proved all aspects of interoperability.”

Joint Viking 25 was designed to test the ability of NATO forces to integrate seamlessly with partner nations in one of the world’s most challenging climates. The exercise featured a large-scale combat operation, supported by 1-6 FAR’s indirect fires, that focused on the collective defense of Norway. U.S. Army, Marine, and allied personnel from Norway, the Netherlands, Finland, Germany, Denmark, Canada, and the United Kingdom worked side by side, strengthening partnerships and reinforcing their commitment to defending shared values.

“Our mission during Joint Viking was to show that we can expeditiously deploy to the Arctic Circle in support of the Norwegian Army and effectively deliver long-range fires,” said Capt. Leone Phuong, commander of Charlie Battery, 1-6 FAR. “Joint Viking was the perfect opportunity for us to conduct actual arctic operations, face suboptimal temperatures and conditions, and actually see the terrain that we would operate in within the Arctic Circle.”

One of the standout features of the exercise was the integration of U.S. fire direction control systems with allied indirect fire delivery systems, displaying the ability of allied forces to conduct fire missions in unison. Sgt. 1st Class Logan Rapp, the senior fire control noncommissioned officer for 1-6 FAR, explained the process and highlighted the importance of training for this type of integration.

“The fires integration piece consisted of our battalion and NATO allies linking our fires command and control systems on the ASCA protocol, which is the Artillery Skills Coordination Activities,” said Rapp. “ASCA allows fires communication systems across all allied nations to talk to each other. In an exercise environment, practicing this coordination enables us to deliver long-range precision fires by allowing us to troubleshoot and solve integration issues in training so that they do not occur again in a real-world scenario.”

In addition to their fire support staff, 1-6 FAR deployed M270A2 Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS) from Grafenwoehr, Germany to Setermoen, Norway to conduct unit-level training in a new environment. They also executed a live-fire exercise that showcased their ability to conduct long-range precision fires over vast distances despite the frozen, snow-covered terrain. Successful long-range fires translate directly to battlefield success, and it is vital that this capability is exercised in various operating environments.

Roark emphasized the important role long-range fires and his Soldiers play on the battlefield.

“Long range fires provide a commander with the opportunity to target areas well beyond a maneuver element’s ability and ultimately shape the battlefield,” said Roark. “You ask our Soldiers what our job is, and it is to deliver death and destruction from a distance.”

The exercise also included a visit from His Royal Highness Crown Prince Haakon of Norway, who observed a demonstration of the M270A2 MLRS’s capabilities and met with Soldiers to learn first-hand of their training in Norway. During his visit, the Crown Prince emphasized that NATO is the cornerstone of Norway’s security and defense, as well as the importance of Allied soldiers training and operating with Norwegian forces in winter conditions.

With the strategic importance of the Arctic increasing, the skills and relationships forged during this exercise will remain vital to the success of future operations in the region. Joint Viking 25 has left U.S. and NATO forces better equipped, better trained, and more unified in their commitment to ensuring stability and security in the Arctic region, prepared to face any future challenges head-on.