Demonstrating flexibility in its newest display of military might, US Air Force F-35A Lightning II stealth fighter aircraft will make history on an exclusively Finnish highway today when they become the first American F-35s to land there in Europe. It forms a key part of the Agile Combat Employment scheme, which typifies what this sort of aircraft represents the capacity to operate from base-less airstrips near potential combat areas.
On September 4, F-35As from the 493rd Fighter Squadron, 48th Fighter Wing took off from RAF Lakenheath in the United Kingdom and flew about 1,300 miles to a pre-designated highway strip in Finland, about 120 miles from the Russian border. The strapped-down landing site, an approximately 100-foot-wide strip of highway, would bring measurements of just how sharp the pilots and the machines truly were.
Gen. James Hecker, commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa, said that this operation was important. “The successful first-ever landing of our fifth-generation F-35 on a highway in Europe is a testament to the growing relationship and close interoperability we have with our Finnish allies,” he said. He said that learning from Finnish counterparts enhances the ability of the U.S. Air Force to rapidly deploy and employ airpower from unconventional locations.
BAANA 2024 is a Finnish Air Force road base exercise designed to exercise its ability to improve flexibility and readiness in NATO forces. The Finnish Air Force, with their expertise in highway operations by their F/A-18 Hornet fighter jets, was seen as crucial support and expertise during the mission. The U.S. pilots successfully landed on the highway, and the 435th Contingency Response Support Squadron conducted the first hot pit refueling of a U.S. Air Force F-35A on a highway in Europe.
According to Lt. Col. Dustin Merritt, the director of operations for the 493rd FS, landing on a highway is just the first step in executing ACE. “This is only going to make our connection and relationship moving forward stronger as we become more dynamic and confident alongside our Finnish counterparts,” he said. Capt. Jordan Kendall, a 493rd FS F-35 pilot, added that proving the ability to execute short-field landings in fifth-generation fighters is crucial for building confidence and showcasing the capability to reach austere landing sites.
There are three models in the F-35 Lightning II: F-35A, F-35B, and F-35C. The F-35 is one of the multirole stealth fighters, combining mission versatility ranging from air superiority to electronic warfare. The version under discussion here is the conventional version, F-35A; the F-35B variant features short take-off and vertical landing; and the F-35C variant is aircraft-carrier capable.
This operation comes hot on the heels of Finland’s accession into NATO in April 2023, making it collectively more prepared and interoperable. The Finnish Air Forces’ experience with highway operations has majorly contributed to the improvement of the feasibility of NATO’s road landing, thus furthering coordination and flexibility as needed during a crisis.
As the alliance continues to build on developing agile combat employment tactics, exercises like BANANA 2024 further underscore the alliance’s intent and commitment to maintaining regional safety, security, and stability.