Finnish F/A-18s to join NATO Air Policing mission in Romania
For the first time since joining NATO, Finnish F/A-18 fighter jets have been certified for NATO’s Air Policing mission in Romania; with a two-month deployment marking the Finnish Air Force’s…
June 12, 2024
For the first time since joining NATO, Finnish F/A-18 fighter jets have been certified for NATO’s Air Policing mission in Romania; with a two-month deployment marking the Finnish Air Force’s first-ever major contribution to NATO’s collective peacetime missions.
“This deployment is an important milestone in our NATO integration,” explained the Finnish F/A-18 Detachment Commander, Lieutenant Colonel Rami Lindström. “Last week, we demonstrated during an evaluation that our detachment knows NATO tactics, techniques and procedures, and is ready to assume Quick Reaction Alert duty here at Mihail Kogălniceanu Air Base”.
Seven Finnish F/A-18s will fly sorties alongside British RAF Typhoons (leading the mission until the end of July) and Romanian F-16s, collectively responding to potential threats to Romania’s airspace. Angel Tilvarin, Minister of National Defence of Romania, said their presence “shows that the co-operation between NATO countries in the common endeavour to strengthen the eastern flank has never been stronger”.
Finland will take its turn at Romanian Air Policing duties following the end of Greece’s tenure, with Brigadier General Avraam Kazantzoglou of the Hellenic Air Force commenting: “NATO does not seek confrontation and poses no threat to the Russian Federation. We will continue to respond to Russian threats and hostile actions in a united and responsible way”.
