Finnish Air Force to participate in Luftförsvarsövning 22 in Sweden

The Finnish Air Force will deploy F/A-18 Hornet multi-role fighters to the Swedish Air Force's Luftförsvarsövning 22 (LFÖ 22) exercise on 18–25 May 2022.

Taking place in southern and central Sweden, Luftförsvarsövning 22 will be the Swedish Air Force’s main exercise of 2022. In total, the exercise will involve approximately 2,500 personnel. The Finnish Air Force will participate in Luftförsvarsövning 22 with six F/A-18 Hornet multi-role fighters, one Pilatus PC-12NG liaison aircraft and around 80 airmen.

For the Finnish Air Force, the aim of the exercise is to plan and execute air operations, base operations, as well as control and reporting centre functions in cooperation with the Swedish Air Force. The Finnish F/A-18 detachment from Lapland Air Command will operate out of Såtenäs Air Base and take part in the air operations of the defending forces alongside Swedish JAS 39 Gripen fighters. In addition to the F/A-18 detachment, the exercise will involve Finnish fighter controllers and liaison officers. 

‒ In the Luftförsvarsövning 22 exercise, we will operate as part of the Swedish air defence. In addition to air operations, we will train receiving Host Nation Support from the Skaraborg Air Wing and integrating into the functions of Såtenäs Air Base, says F/A-18 Hornet detachment commander Major Markus Paukkeri from Lapland Air Command.

The Finnish and Swedish Air Forces have participated in each other’s national main live air exercises since 2016 as part of the defence cooperation between the two nations. Finland’s defence cooperation with Sweden aims at strengthening the security of the Baltic Sea region as well as the defence capabilities of both Finland and Sweden. The Finnish Air Force’s participation in Luftförsvarsövning 22 is part of the Defence Forces’ international training and exercise activity in 2022, approved by the Finnish Ministry of Defence.