Northern Council launches largest cold weather exerciseExercise Arctic Lion '45 aimed at testing NC battlegroups readiness for cold weather warfareHutorian Marines board a HH-13 Osprey during early stages of Arctic Lion '45.A large-scale military training exercise has commenced involving more than 10 NOCTO nations and partners, part of efforts to both reassure NOCTO nations of the alliance's commitment to collective defence and security and to "test" the various NOCTO battlegroups and their preparedness for cold weather warfare operations. According to statements, the exercise in its core meaning is aimed at testing the interoperability of battle formations among the various nations involved in the exercise. For a period not extending 5 days, 40,000 troops and accompanying armoured vehicles, aircraft and combatant vessels will participate in what has been dubbed the largest cold weather exercise to come to the Arctic and White Ocean, a move likely to place an emphasis on the alliance's goal for fluid interoperability among its battle formations. The exercise sees nations such as Hutori, Kazulia, Dorvik, New Endralon, Egelion, Kundrati, Likatonia, Lourenne, Luthori, Klavia, Hulstria, Rutania, Valruzia, Dolgava and Telamon coordinate their efforts on a series of objectives set out in the exercise aimed at ensuring the nations are prepared for cold weather warfare.
Coined Exercise Arctic Lion '21, it includes manoeuvres such as water crossings, Mount and Dismounted movements, mountain warfare and armoured warfare. According to the Joint Headquarters, Arctic Lion exercises are usually hosted by the Kazulian Armed Forces in Arenheim however this year it will be hosted by the Hutorian Armed Forces in Northern Sutton. Non-NOCTO nations including Hawu Mumenhes, Mordusia and Valruzia are expected to participate in the exercise according to officials from Joint Headquarters. Hutori maintains an extensive cold weather warfare history, after fighting the Trigunian Armed Forces in harsh arctic climate during the Terran War, the nation has been designated as one of the most capable arctic warfare forces in the world. Kazulia and Hutori have been the leading voices for preparedness among the alliance's members. According to statements from the Joint Headquarters, the exercises conducted by the Northern Council Treaty Organisation are solely aimed at preparing the alliance for a possible eventuality.
Similar to Exercise Crimson Moon which pinned the Kazulian and Hutorian Air Forces against the entire alliance, Arctic Lion '21 will put the 1st Hutorian-Kazulian Brigade against 10,000 troops from the various participating nations. The 1st Hutorian-Kazulian Brigade has been dubbed the most combat capable cold weather battlegroup in the world as it combines the expertise of the Kazulian and Hutorian Armed Forces. According to the Joint Headquarters, the Northern Council's arctic lion exercises enabled cooperation among the alliance's nations whom "must be prepared for combat in all climates, terrains and seasons."