Finnish Air Force tightens cooperation with NATO

Finland first PfP country to pass NATO air-to-air tests

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Based on a series of tests carried out in Germany in September, the Finnish Air Force has been established as the first NATO Partnership for Peace member to meet the standards set by the military alliance.
      “In a defence report from 2004, an aim was set for the Finnish Air Force to reach preparedness for international missions by the year 2010. The affirmation received from NATO testifies that this goal has been reached”, said Air Force Commander, Major-General Jarmo Lindberg at a press conference held in Jyväskylä’s Tikkakoski on Monday.
      The proof for the detachment-level cooperation capability in air-to-air – or fighter-interceptor – operations was a result of development work that lasted for two years and cost around six million euros.
      This was a major step forward in the already close practical cooperation between Finland and NATO.
     
The next step will be taken already before the turn of the year, when Finland agrees with SHAPE (Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe) - the central command of NATO military forces - on exchanging airspace situation information.
      According to Lindberg, in the first instance airspace situation information will be exchanged, together with Sweden, primarily through Norway, but if needed also through Lithuania. Both countries are members of NATO.
     
NATO compatibility is also strongly in the picture when developing and updating the FAF's equipment.
      The Air Force’s Hornet fighter jets will be updated to a form in which they will fly until the end of their service time, which is well into the 2020s.
      For example, on the electronics side NATO standards will be used.
      According to Lindberg, the updating of the entire Hornet fleet comes with a price tag of around one billion euros, of which just over a third has been spent so far.
      The aim is also to provide the fighters with an air-to-ground capability. For this purpose the aircraft will be equipped with air-to-ground missiles by the year 2013, although the designation of the missiles has not been decided yet.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  NATO Secretary General: Finland reliable partner to NATO (5.5.2009)
  NATO Pros and Cons (29.11.2007)

See also:
  Mid-Life update of Hornets is second-largest weapons deal in Finnish military history (2.10.2008)

Links:
  Finnish Air Force – More Capability to the Hornet
  Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (Wikipedia)
  Partnership for Peace (NATO)

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