The Finnish Air Force Hornets will conduct a bilateral air training exercise with the US Air Force’s (USAF) Oregon Air National Guard (ANG) at Rissala air base in Finland.
The exercise will involve participation of the USAF’s six to eight Boeing-built F-15C fighters, which will visit Fighter Squadron 31 of Karelia Air Command from 9 to 20 May.
Additionally, the F-15 aircraft along with 70 to 100 personnel will join cross border training (CBT) conducted with the Swedish and Norwegian Air Forces.
The Finnish Air Force has been conducting training with the USAF on a regular basis.
The Finnish Air Force said: "The Finnish Air Force has had multifaceted cooperation with the US since the commencement of the Hornet multi-role fighter procurement programme in the 1990s."
In 2015, the Finnish Air Force Hornet multi-role fighters and Hawk jet trainers carried out combined training events and waves in Finland with the USAF’s fleet of F-16 fighters and A-10 strike aircraft.
Previously, the USAF participated in the Arctic Challenge Exercise (ACE) held in the northern parts of Finland, Sweden and Norway.
In addition to air exercises and squadron-level visits, the Finnish Air Force conducts aerial refuelling training with the USAF.
The USAF sends a tanker for training purposes to Finland twice a year to support the Finnish Air Force Hornet pilot training to meet the required standards in aerial refuelling.
