With stronger cooperation between the Nordic countries, an opportunity opened up to be able to practice on motorways in Finland. There are particularly long, straight – and deserted motorways. For the very first time, two of Norway’s new F-35 A fighter jets this week managed to land and take off on a normal road in Tervo. This is probably the first time ever with this type of aircraft. These planes went in for landing and took off again in a so-called touch and go. It was part of the exercise on Finnish motorways this week. Photo: Ole Andreas Vekve / The Armed Forces – We have a lot to learn from each other. Now the Finns have welcomed us, and we have done so with great success. It will be important to be able to disperse the planes in a tense situation. This is what the manager at Ørland main airport, Martin Tesli, tells news. A separate deployment concept for aircraft As usual, the vast majority of aircraft in Norway are stationed at the combat aircraft base on Ørlandet. But being able to spread the planes and operate from many different locations will be crucial if necessary. Finland became a member of NATO earlier this year, and is an important partner for the Norwegian Air Force. According to Reuters, Finland has around twelve stretches of road designated as reserve airports. The commander of 132 Air Wing in Ørlandet is very satisfied with the exercise. – This is as part of the spread concept to Norway, where we should be able to be mobile and land in different places, Tesli tells news. Martin Tesli is the commander of 132 Air Wing in Ørlandet and the person in charge at the combat aircraft base. Photo: Ingrid Lindgaard Stranden / news Vulnerable aircraft on the ground The Norwegian Armed Forces describe the F-35 as a state-of-the-art aircraft that can operate from many bases and locations. But that it is limited by how long it can operate without additional supplies of weapons, fuel and technical ground support. In addition to taking off and landing, the pilots in Finland this week also practiced being able to refuel along the motorway. They refueled with the engines running – a so-called “hotpit refueling”. Photo: Eivind Byre / The Armed Forces In a press release from the Armed Forces, Chief of the Air Force, Rolf Folland, emphasizes that the fact that Norwegian planes are now able to take off and land like this on a motorway in Finland is important. Not just for Norway, but for the Nordic countries and NATO. – Fighter planes are vulnerable on the ground, so by being able to use small airfields – and now also motorways – we increase survivability in war, says Folland. Folland has previously stated to news that the work to put in place a good dispersion concept for the fighters is “put on steroids” – The aim of the dispersion concept is to make it more challenging for an enemy to take out our aircraft when they have to be on the ground. If such a concept is to work, we must map out all possibilities, and practice them, says Folland in the press release. Chief of Defense General Eirik Kristoffersen, Chief of the Air Force, Major General Rolf Folland and Chief of NATO’s Military Committee Admiral Rob Bauer in conversation on Ørlandet during Bauer’s visit to the base in September. Photo: Ole Andreas Vekve / The Finns have done it for a long time. Finland has the F-18 Hornet aircraft type. Before the landing in Tervo, both Norwegian and Finnish fighters participated in a joint exercise. British Eurofighter is also involved. Sweden has the aircraft type Jas Gripen. Both Finland and Sweden have a lot of experience with landing on motorways from before. Finnish F-18 takes off and lands on a motorway during joint training with Norway and F-35. Photo: Ole Andreas Vekve / Defense Finland has ordered 64 new combat aircraft of the same type as Norway, the F-35 A. They will receive their first aircraft in 2026. Denmark recently received its first F-35. Chief of Defense Eirik Kristoffersen points out that the Nordic countries have shown great initiative in Nordic cooperation, and have come a long way. He believes this landing is a very good example of this, and that it shows that the Nordic countries can soon operate together as a coordinated force. The Nordics’ future air defense will consist of more than 200 combat aircraft. The Jas Gripen fighter aircraft taking off from Ørland during the Arctic Challenge exercise earlier this year. Photo: Ingrid Lindgaard Stranden / no
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Norwegian F-35 landed on a highway in Finland for the first time – news Trøndelag – Local news, TV and radio
