Finnish-Swedish-US joint training sorties begin
The Finnish Air Force fighters on Tuesday began training with planes from the Swedish Air Force and the 510th Fighter Squadron of the United States Air Forces in Europe.
Running until April 1st, the exercise is primarily taking place in Finland’s airspace over the Bothnian Sea and in international airspace.
Finland is assigning two to four F/A-18 Hornet multirole fighters to the training sorties while the United States is operating with F-16 Fighting Falcons and Sweden with JAS-39 Gripens. It is also possible that a USAF KC-135 Stratotanker refuelling aircraft flying out of Great Britain will take part in the training exercise.
Training missions between the Finnish Air Force and USAFE will be conducted from the 24th to the 26th and on the 30th. Training involving aircraft from all three countries is scheduled for the 31st of this month and April 1st.
The Finnish and Swedish fighters will take part in waves from their home bases and the US fighters from Ämari in Estonia. The Finnish Hornets operate either from Satakunta Air Command in Pirkkala or Karelia Air Command in Rissala. Training sorties will be flown in the daytime.
The fighters will meet within the designated training area and conduct preplanned scenarios. The aircraft will not carry any weapons.
Related stories from around the North:
Canada: Canadian Rangers – The Watchers, Radio Canada International
Finland: Russian troops near Finnish border placed on combat readiness, Yle News
Norway: Peace and stability crucial for Arctic economy, Barents Observer
Russia: Russia lays down fifth multirole nuclear submarine, Barents Observer
Sweden: Sweden’s government scared of NATO facts: Moderates Party, Radio Sweden
United States: U.S. Arctic rep: Russia’s Arctic buildup not necessarily martial, Alaska Public Radio Network
