Sweden conducts first Patriot live firing in Crete ahead of planned mission to protect NATO’s Ukraine aid hub in Poland

Sweden's Air Defence Regiment Lv 6 completed its first Patriot missile live firing during Exercise Spartan Arrow at the NATO Missile Firing Installation on Crete in October 2026. More than 100 Swedish personnel took part in allied training that tested movement, deployment and engagement procedures for the system known nationally as Luftvärnssystem 103. The exercise preceded a planned December deployment under NATO Air Command to protect the Rzeszów-area logistics hub in Poland used to transfer military and civilian assistance to Ukraine. Sweden is also contributing Gripen fighters to NATO air-defence activity supporting protection of the same hub.