Two U.S. Air Force F-35 Lightning II fighter jets conducted a historic landing on a Finnish highway on Wednesday as part of the Finnish Air Force's annual road-based exercise, BAANA 2024.
The two U.S. jets were assigned to the Royal Air Force's No. 48 Fighter Wing in Lakenheath, England, and the exercise demonstrated the NATO alliance's improving ability to project air power from non-traditional locations.
BAANA 24 is an annual road-based exercise in which the Finnish Air Force regularly trains outside of its main operating base so that it can quickly disperse aircraft across Finland if necessary. According to a Finnish military press release, the activity is designed to ensure the military is combat-ready from anywhere.
The purpose is to take off and land at road bases.
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Two U.S. Air Force F-35 Lightning II fighter jets from the 48th Fighter Wing, RAF Lakenheath, England, made history on September 4 when they landed on a highway runway during the BAANA 2024 exercise at Hosio Highway Runway in Ranua, Finland. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Silas Corregidor)
The two F-35s took part in an exercise aimed at strengthening cooperation between allied military forces.
“The first successful landing of our fifth-generation F-35s on a European highway is a testament to our deepening relationship and interoperability with our Finnish allies,” said Gen. James Hecker, commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa. “The opportunity to learn from our Finnish allies improves our ability to rapidly deploy and operate air power from unconventional locations and reflects the overall readiness and agility of our military.”
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During the exercise, two F-35s demonstrated takeoff and landing maneuvers on a Finnish highway, practicing agile combat operations, which enhance joint partners' ability to operate together in joint high-intensity environments, improving readiness, responsiveness and interoperability. (U.S. Air Force photo by Pvt. 1st Class Tabatha Chapman)
Finland will join NATO in 2023 and has since provided U.S. Air Force soldiers with the opportunity to learn from each other.
One of the most recent activities involved the Finnish Air Force, one of nine air forces that took part in an air superiority exercise in Ramstein, Germany, in June.
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During the event, pilots used the aircraft in a series of aerial combat simulations.
