Finnish Air Force to Conduct Air-to-Air Refueling Test Flights with Swedish Hercules

On April 4 to 8, Finnish Air Force Hornets are set to conduct air-to-air refueling test flights with a Hercules tanker of the Swedish Air Force. The objective is to verify safety and technical compatibility during refueling from a new type of tanker aircraft.

A Swedish Air Force TP84T (Hercules) tanker aircraft.

For verification test flights, the Finnish Air Force will deploy two Boeing F/A-18 Hornet multi-role fighters to the Swedish Air Force's northern base at Kallax to work with a Swedish Air Force Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules (Swedish designation TP84T).

The purpose of the flights, which will be conducted in Swedish airspace, is to verify general safety and technical compatibility of the Hornet during air-to-air refueling from the Swedish tankers and other similarly configured C-130s. Verification is done in accordance with internationally approved procedures, and it will allow air-to-air refueling training and exercises supported by a tanker aircraft not previously used to deliver fuel to Finnish Hornets.

Finnish Hornets have previously conducted air-to-air refueling sorties with Boeing KC-135 Stratotankers, Boeing KC-10 Extenders, Airbus A310 MRTTs and other tanker aircraft during air-to-air training events in Finland and in conjunction with combined live air exercises.

The objective of the training is to train Finnish Hornet pilots in air-to-air refueling and renew and restore qualifications for participation in international air exercises.