The Aurora 26 exercise reportedly began on April 27 and will continue until May 13. According to reports, it involves approximately 16,000 Swedish soldiers, sailors, and officers alongside 1,500 allied personnel from twelve countries, though the full list of participating nations has not been disclosed. This multinational training is described as one of Sweden's largest military exercises in recent years.
In Skåne, the Netherlands is reportedly participating with five Apache attack helicopters that will fly low between Ronneby and P7 in Revingehed for several days starting April 24. According to reports, Marcus Nilsson, communications manager at P7, described the Apache helicopters as particularly noticeable due to the noise they generate. Multiple reports indicate these helicopters may be visible over northeastern Skåne during their operations.
The exercise activities in Skåne will reportedly conclude on May 5, with the Swedish Armed Forces having conducted training in Rinkaby over the weekend, according to reports. This regional component forms part of the broader Aurora 26 framework.
In Uppsala, exercise activities reportedly began on Friday with participation from several units of F16 – Upplands flygflottilj. Shooting exercises will be conducted in connection with this training, both at the airfield and in various forest areas, though the exact dates and times for these shooting exercises have not been specified.
Other regional exercises include a week-long exercise at the former military airfield Lunda just outside Alunda and in the forests around Gimo and Österby. Additionally, a large local exercise will take place at Hagshult airbase, though it remains unclear whether this activity is part of Aurora 26 or a separate local exercise.
The Swedish Armed Forces has reportedly warned of many military vehicles on civilian roads from April 20 through mid-May due to the exercise, though specific routes and schedules have not been released. Some military transports will reportedly travel through Jämtland on their way south as part of Aurora 26 logistics, but what specific military units or types of vehicles will be involved in these Jämtland transports has not been detailed.