Soldiers moved cautiously through a snow-covered forest in Finland’s far north, their white camouflage melting into the trees as their skis slid almost silently across the frozen ground. Spotting an unaware enemy patrol ahead, they dropped to a knee, lined up their rifles, and opened fire. The crack of shots echoed through the woods, a simulated firefight erupting in the bitter cold.
The encounter was part of a recent winter combat exercise involving roughly 20 NATO troops in Finland’s Lapland region, around 75 miles north of the Arctic Circle. The drill began with an assault conducted on skis and snowmobiles before transitioning into a simulated battle using blanks and laser-based engagement systems instead of live ammunition. Though the bullets were not real, the conditions were, and the lessons were designed to prepare allied soldiers for the realities of fighting in one of the world’s harshest environments.
Business Insider observed the start of the exercise at a remote training site blanketed in deep snow and surrounded by dense forest. A small NATO platoon faced off against an opposing “Red force” that was three times larger, made up of Finnish conscripts from the Jaeger Brigade. The scenario tested not only tactics and coordination, but also endurance, navigation, and decision-making under physical stress.
The exercise was part of a monthlong Arctic warfare course run by Finland’s Jaeger Brigade, a unit with decades of experience in cold-weather combat and survival. The program is designed to train allied forces to operate effectively in sub-zero temperatures, limited daylight, and terrain that can quickly exhaust even well-prepared troops.
Maj. Mikael Aikio, the Jaeger Brigade’s Arctic section leader overseeing the course, said the use of laser-based systems adds an important layer of realism. “At least there is some kind of fear of getting hit,” he told Business Insider. That sense of consequence, he said, forces soldiers to move carefully, use cover, and communicate effectively—habits that are critical in real combat.
The Arctic has emerged as a region of increasing strategic importance, drawing heightened attention from NATO as well as from Russia and China. Melting ice is opening new sea routes and access to natural resources, while advances in military technology are making the far north more accessible to armed forces. NATO leaders have repeatedly warned that the alliance must be prepared to defend its interests in the region as geopolitical competition intensifies.
Russia, which has a long Arctic coastline and significant military infrastructure in the region, has stepped up patrols and modernization efforts in recent years. China, despite being geographically distant, has declared itself a “near-Arctic state” and invested in polar research, shipping routes, and partnerships that could enhance its influence.
Against that backdrop, exercises like the one in Lapland are meant to ensure NATO forces are not caught unprepared in an environment that can be as dangerous as any enemy. Temperatures routinely drop well below freezing, daylight can be limited to just a few hours, and deep snow can make movement slow and exhausting.
Finland is particularly well positioned to lead such training. Roughly a third of its territory lies above the Arctic Circle, and the country has a long tradition of preparing for warfare in cold conditions. Finnish forces gained hard-earned experience during conflicts with the Soviet Union in the 20th century, shaping a defense culture that emphasizes resilience, mobility, and familiarity with harsh terrain.
For more than a decade, Finland has hosted annual Arctic warfare courses for international partners. Since joining NATO in 2023, those efforts have taken on new urgency, as the alliance looks to strengthen its northern flank.
The course observed this week brought together soldiers from Finland, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, and Canada. The aim is not only to train the participants themselves, but also to turn them into multipliers who can pass on what they learn to their units back home.
The program is divided into three phases over four weeks. It begins with cold-weather survival and winter movement training, teaching soldiers how to stay warm, prevent frostbite, and move efficiently over snow. The second phase focuses on combat skills, including attacking on skis, building snow foxholes, and coordinating small-unit maneuvers. The final phase moves above the tree line, where troops practice low-mountain operations in even more exposed conditions.
The NATO platoon—designated the “Blue force”—started by traveling several kilometers through the forest on snowmobiles. They then dismounted, strapped on skis, and climbed to the top of a small hill overlooking the objective. Their mission was to assault and seize terrain defended by the Finnish conscripts acting as the Red force.
Historically, skis were often the only way soldiers could maneuver in deep snow, and they remain essential in many Arctic operations. Modern snowmobiles have expanded those capabilities, allowing troops to travel farther and faster while conserving energy for combat.
“You can’t get anywhere,” Aikio said, describing how deep snow can cripple conventional ground assaults. The Arctic, he added, demands a set of warfighting skills that are rarely used elsewhere.
Learning those skills is not easy, especially for soldiers with little prior experience on skis. Troops must balance while carrying heavy packs, weapons, helmets, and protective vests, all of which make movement more awkward and tiring.
“It’s hard to move with the skis,” said Finnish Lt. Laura Lähdekorpi, one of the course participants. She noted that her background in recreational downhill skiing helped her develop balance, but military skiing in full gear is a different challenge altogether.
Canadian Capt. Vincent Lemelin said he also grew up skiing, but the equipment used in Finland was unfamiliar. The skis are longer and designed to function more like snowshoes, spreading weight over a larger surface to prevent sinking.
“The fact that the skis are this long requires some adaptation,” Lemelin said, “but it does give an advantage to already have the skills.”
Even experienced skiers, he added, can struggle under these conditions. Fatigue sets in quickly, especially during night operations, eroding confidence and increasing the risk of mistakes.
As daylight faded, the assault began in earnest. The Blue force launched small drones to gather reconnaissance and targeting data, relaying the information to a nearby control van. From there, trainers simulated artillery strikes against Red force positions, adding another layer of complexity to the exercise.
The soldiers advanced with rifles loaded with blanks, each weapon fitted with a transmitter that emits a laser beam when fired. Sensors in vests and helmet straps detect incoming laser hits. When struck, a soldier’s gear announces whether they have been “wounded” or “killed,” depending on where the laser lands. Those deemed out of action remove their helmets to signal they are no longer in the fight.
The system may resemble an advanced form of laser tag, but participants treat it seriously. It forces them to react to casualties, adapt to sudden losses, and practice battlefield discipline under pressure.
“If we fight without this, everyone can just walk straight into the woods,” Lähdekorpi said. Without a way to track hits, there would be no incentive to use cover or move cautiously. The technology, she said, pushes soldiers to hide, maneuver discreetly, and communicate more effectively.
Aikio acknowledged that the system has limitations. Snow, branches, or other obstacles can block the laser, something that would not stop a real bullet. “It’s not realistic in that sense,” he said, “but it’s much better than nothing.”
For some NATO soldiers, the course marks their first experience operating in a true Arctic environment. Rising tensions between the West and Russia have fueled concerns that any future conflict could extend into frozen regions, making this kind of preparation increasingly important. A confrontation involving China, another emerging Arctic actor, could also have implications for the far north.
Finland shares an 800-mile border with Russia and is now one of NATO’s frontline states. Long before joining the alliance, the country prepared for the possibility of conflict in the Arctic, building a defense posture centered on territorial knowledge and readiness.
“Now we are in NATO,” Aikio said. “We want to support our allies so that they can also fight and work here in our conditions—in our terrain.”
As the simulated firefight wound down and soldiers regrouped in the cold twilight, the message of the exercise was clear: in the Arctic, the environment itself is a formidable adversary. Mastering it could make the difference in any future conflict, and NATO is increasingly determined not to be caught unprepared in the far north.
