From August 31 to September 6, 2024, Allied Nations Germany and the United States joined Finland’s annual road base exercise Baana to conduct historic landings on highways. The Norvatie highway strip in Rovaniemi and the Hosio highway strip in Ranua, Finland, became the landing strip during exercise Baana 24, a Finnish-led annual exercise taking place outside main operating bases to increase expeditionary capability and dispersed operations drills. Main participants in Baana 24 were the Finnish Air Force’s F/A-18 Hornet fighter jets, Hawk jet trainers, as well as transport and liaison aircraft. Germany participated with Eurofighter jets and the United States with the F-35A enhancing both Allies’ Agile Combat Employment or ACE tactics, techniques and procedures.
“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. The opportunity to learn from our Finnish counterparts improves our ability to rapidly deploy and employ air power from unconventional locations and reflects the collective readiness and the agility of our forces,” said General James Hecker, commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa and NATO’s Allied Air Command.
Germany deployed a limited support element with their Eurofighters to Finland and conducted operations from a normal highway for the first time. For two United States F-35A jets belonging to the 48th Fighter Wing stationed at Lakenheath, United Kingdom, it was also the first time to practice highway landings in Europe. After initial checks, the 435th Contingency Response Support Squadron stepped in and conducted the first hot pit refueling of a U.S. Air Force F-35A on a highway in Europe. The presence of RAF Lakenheath F-35As training alongside Finnish Allies demonstrates that U.S. forces are fully prepared and postured to work seamlessly with NATO Allies and partners in the region to enhance the Alliance’s security.
Agile Combat Employment is a proactive and reactive operational scheme of maneuver executed to increase survivability while generating combat power. The doctrine focuses on collaboration with partners during in high-intensity situations to boost readiness, responsiveness, and interoperability. The austere landing exercise demonstrates the readiness to operate out of a dispersed base. In addition, advancements in the Alliance’s ability to perform ACE concept and promotes closer integration among Allied air forces. Exercises such as Baana enhancing force capability and demonstrate the strong transatlantic relations among Allied air forces. It also provides pilots tactical training in different airspaces, testing their proficiency alongside one another.
