The Finnish Air Force will conduct air-to-air refueling (AAR) training missions with the Multinational Multirole Tanker Transport Unit (MMU) on Apr. 16-17 and 23-24, 2024.
Photo: Finnish Air Force
The exercises aim to maintain and renew qualifications for F/A-18 Hornet fighter pilots in aerial refueling procedures, a vital skill for extending operational range and mission flexibility.
The MMU is an international NATO air cooperation program established in 2016. It focuses on the acquisition, management, and operation of a fleet of Airbus A330-200 Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft. The Netherlands and Luxembourg initiated the program, with Belgium, Germany, Norway, and the Czech Republic joining subsequently.
The program operates nine MRTT aircraft from two airbases. The Main Operating Base (MOB) in Eindhoven, Netherlands, houses five aircraft. The remaining four operate from the Forward Operating Base+ (FOB+) situated in Cologne, Germany.
For the upcoming training, the MMU will provide an A330 MRTT tanker to support the Finnish Lapland and Karelia Air Wings. Finnish F/A-18s will fly from Rovaniemi and Rissala bases, while the A330 MRTT will operate out of Rovaniemi Air Base.
The training airspace encompasses areas near Rovaniemi, Kuusamo, Kajaani, Kuopio, Jyväskylä, and Oulu, integrating seamlessly with routine Finnish Air Force operations.
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