The Finnish Air Force has announced that Arctic Challenge Exercise 21 will take place from Jun. 7-18. The exercise is scaled down this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
A Danish F-16 prepares for a flight during Arctic Challenge Exercise 19, a multilateral training exercise along with U.S. Marine Corps F/A-18 Hornets from Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 251, at Rovaniemi Air Base, Finland, May 27, 2019. The U.S. Marine Corps’ participation in Arctic Challenge 19 ensures interoperability and enables the Marine Corps to globally deploy its forces alongside partner nations and allies. VMFA-251 is a subordinate unit of Marine Aircraft Group 31, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by 1st Lt. Christin St. John)
Previous iterations of the exercise had more than 100 aircraft participating. Organized by the air forces of Finland, Sweden and Norway, there will be two waves of flights each day over the training air space of Norway, Finland and Sweden.
For the first time, Norwegian F-35As will be taking part in the exercise.
