Finland and Turkey are conducting an Open Skies observation flight in Russia 13-17 June 2016. Turkey will be the lead nation during the flight. The flight will be conducted using Turkey's CASA/CN-235 surveillance aircraft.
The Finnish four-man team will be led Lieutenant Commander Kari Ahrnberg from the Defence Command Finland. The Turkish team will have 14 members. The entire observation team will be led by Lieutenant Colonel Ümit Soydan from the Turkish Air Force Command.
Open Skies is an agreement that aims to promote transparency and security in Europe. The agreement allows the signatories to conduct observation flights and take aerial photographs over the territories of its member states when these have been planned and announced beforehand. Finland signed the agreement in February 2003.
