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Ukrainian Specialists Bring Drone Warfare Expertise to Swedish Aurora 26 Drills
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![Photo of Cyril Barabaltchouk]( "Photo of Cyril Barabaltchouk")
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The Ukrainian Armed Forces will participate in the upcoming Aurora 26 military exercise in Sweden as part of the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) Enhanced Partnership, the Swedish Armed Forces announced on April 28.
During the exercise, Ukrainian drone operators and specialists will engage in live drills, joint training with allied units, and dedicated seminars focused on drone warfare. These sessions will cover both seaborne and anti-air drone operations, utilizing Ukraine’s extensive battlefield experience.
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“Ukraine’s participation in AURORA 26 will strengthen Sweden, our allies and the Joint Expeditionary Force,” stated Rear Admiral Jonas Wikström, the Exercise Director. “Their knowledge and skill will amplify our capabilities in drone warfare, help accelerate defensive tactics and enhance European security.”
The Aurora 26 drills will involve more than 16,000 personnel from the Swedish Armed Forces, including soldiers, sailors, and officers. The comprehensive exercise will also facilitate the reception and integration of approximately 1,500 troops from Ukraine and other allied nations. Together, the forces will rehearse strategic plans for reinforcement operations across Northern Europe and along the Eastern Flank, the Swedish Armed Forces wrote.
The inclusion of Ukrainian forces in Aurora 26 is the first operational step in the JEF-Ukraine Enhanced Partnership. Leaders of the JEF agreed to this formalized partnership during a summit in Oslo on May 9, 2025, aiming to deepen military and political ties that have developed since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Operating as a flexible tool for dialogue and complementary to NATO’s deterrence strategies, the JEF continues to focus on strengthening cooperation and Euro-Atlantic security, the Swedish Armed Forces stated.
The Aurora 26 exercises and the integration of allied forces coincide with previous Russian naval activity near Scandinavian waters. The Swedish Armed Forces have recently deployed two JAS 39 Gripen fighter jets to monitor a Russian Kilo-class submarine transiting the Kattegat Strait, a maritime corridor linking the Baltic and North Seas.
While international law permits Russian vessels to navigate these waters, Swedish forces maintained surveillance of the submarine, gathering imagery and sharing intelligence with NATO allies.
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