Finnish Air Force to conduct major exercises in late August

The Finnish Air Force is set to engage in two significant training exercises at the end of this month, showcasing the capabilities of its fighter jets and transport aircraft.

F-A-18C Hornet - RIAT 2015 (22727453406)
Airwolfhound from Hertfordshire, UK, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

From August 26 to 30, the Ilmataktiikka 24 live air exercise will involve over 30 aircraft, including 22 F/A-18 Hornet fighter jets and four Hawk jet trainers. The exercise aims to validate the skills of the Air Force’s fighter tactics course students, qualifying them as flight commanders and master fighter controllers.

Concurrently, the Pristine Flank 24 exercise, organized by the Satakunta Air Wing, will take place from August 24 to 28 at the Tikkakoski Air Base. This event will be the main exercise for the Air Force’s transport and liaison fleet, involving Finland’s C-295M transport aircraft, Pilatus PC-12NG liaison aircraft, and Learjet 35A/S jets, as well as helicopters and surveillance aircraft from the Finnish Army and Border Guard. The United States Air Force’s MC-130J Commando II and the Swedish Air Force’s TP 84 Hercules will also participate, training in multinational air transport operations.

The two exercises will be interconnected, with training missions involving both fighter jets and transport aircraft. The flight operations will occur within the airspace spanning from Rovaniemi to Jyväskylä, with daily training missions scheduled between 9 am and 9 pm.

These exercises underscore the Finnish Air Force’s commitment to maintaining readiness and honing the skills of its personnel across various combat and support capabilities. The simultaneous training events, integrating both domestic and international assets, demonstrate Finland’s robust defense capabilities and its strong partnerships with key allies.

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