Fighter Capabilities Flaunted During Finland’s Annual BAANA Exercise

Two F-35 Lightning II fighters from the U.S. Air Force recently executed a highway landing during Finland’s annual road training exercise. This showcases success in the military’s efforts to integrate forces within the NATO alliance.

The aircraft are a part of the 48th Fighter Wing for the Royal Air Force in Lakenheath, U.K. As the U.S. Air Force In Europe's only fourth and fifth-generation fighter base, they operate two squads of F-15E Strike Eagles and two more of F-35A Lightning IIs.

The landing took place on a predesignated highway in Ranua, Finland on September 4 as a part of BAANA 2024. During the exercise, which was hosted by the Finnish Air Force, airmen from the U.S. Air Force and other NATO allies learned to operate in somewhat unusual environments. They also developed Agile Combat Employment techniques through a number of atypical take-off and landing operations.

General James Hecker, commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe, stated: “The opportunity to learn from our Finnish counterparts improves our ability to rapidly deploy and employ airpower from unconventional locations and reflects the collective readiness and the agility of our forces.”

Though the 2024 exercise was the U.S. Air Force F-35’s first run, the Royal Norwegian Air Force fighters took their turn in last September’s BAANA. This was the first time that the F-35’s conventional takeoff and landing version touched down on a highway. They were joined by the UK Royal Air Force’s Eurofighter Typhoons and Finnish Air Force F/A-18 aircraft.

“The successful first-ever landing of our fifth-generation F-35 on a highway in Europe is a testament to the growing relationship and close interoperability we have with our Finnish allies,” continued Hecker.

Finland joined NATO on April 4, 2023. Since then, the nation has been working to build opportunities for collaboration with other allies' militaries. In June, for example, the Finnish Air Force was one of nine to partake in air superiority exercises at Ramstein. This 1-versus-1 event, inspired by the U.S. Navy Top Gun Strike Fighters Tactics Course, aimed to improve trust between allies while testing pilots' decision-making.

FMI: www.lakenheath.af.mil