The Finnish Air Force will deploy more than 40 aircraft across military bases, civilian airports and a highway landing strip during Protective Fence 26, running from 19 to 27 November. The exercise will include Dutch F-35As operating from Rissala, French Rafales from Rovaniemi and Swedish Gripens flying from Kallax in Sweden. About 4,100 personnel are expected to take part, including allied specialists from the UK and the United States.
Finland will contribute 20 F/A-18 Hornets, Hawk trainers and transport and communications aircraft. More than 1,800 reservists will support the exercise, including in aircraft maintenance and force protection. Operations will use the main bases at Rovaniemi, Rissala, Tikkakoski and Pirkkala, alongside civilian airports, the Jännevirta reserve landing strip on Highway 9 and Kallax. The main phase, from 22 to 24 November, will include round-the-clock flying.
The drill is designed to develop the Finnish Air Force’s capacity to conduct large-scale air operations from dispersed locations. Training will also cover integrating fifth-generation aircraft into air operations and sharing operational experience between Dutch and Finnish personnel. Finland’s chief of operations linked the focus on dispersal and mobility to lessons from the war in Ukraine. Protective Fence 26 will also be the final exercise for Finnish conscripts scheduled to complete their service in December.