On Friday, May 1, 2026, the ships participating in Exercise Mjølner 2026 will arrive in Harstad, Norway, for the first time. Their arrival marks the start of the visible preparation phase for this multinational maritime exercise under German leadership.
Approximately 2,500 soldiers from Norway, Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Germany are participating in the exercise. Sweden and Lithuania are observing. A total of eight ships from the participating nations, as well as Norwegian armed forces personnel, are involved.
The German Navy is participating with the frigates “Sachsen-Anhalt” and “Hamburg”, the replenishment ship “Bonn”, and the corvettes “Braunschweig” and “Erfurt”. The Norwegian frigate “Fridtjof Nansen” and the Danish frigates “Iver Huitfeldt” and “Absalon” are also taking part in the exercise.
The focus of Mjølner 2026 is training under realistic operational conditions. Over several days, continuous 24-hour training will take place at sea and on land. The aim is to solidify procedures under time pressure, further strengthen cooperation between partners, and ensure operational readiness even under high stress. Parts of the exercise will be conducted as tactical live-fire exercises with limited public visibility.
Against the backdrop of the current security policy environment, close cooperation between European and NATO partners is becoming increasingly important. The northern flank represents a strategically vital area, the protection and surveillance of which must be ensured through close cooperation.
Mjølner 2026 thus stands for shared responsibility, reliable cooperation and the willingness to actively guarantee security in Europe and the transatlantic area.