Air activity in the Finnish Army’s spring exercises
The British Army’s AH-64E Apache and AW159 Wildcat helicopters will take part in the Finnish Army’s exercise activity in Finland between 24 April and 1 June 2025.
Flight operations will be conducted across Finland as part of exercises led by the Kainuu Brigade, the Karelia Brigade, the Armoured Brigade and the Air Force Academy. There will be helicopter activity especially in the Finnish Defence Forces’ firing range and training areas, but the helicopters’ transit flights can be seen and heard also elsewhere.
The Finnish Air Force will support the Finnish Army’s spring exercises with F/A-18 Hornet fighter jets, Hawk jet trainers, as well as transport and liaison aircraft. The Finnish Army will operate with NH90 and MD500 helicopters during the exercises.
Apache and Wildcat helicopters to deploy to Finland
The British contingent in Finland will consist of two AH-64E Apache attack helicopter detachments and an AW159 Wildcat helicopter detachment. While in Finland, the helicopter detachments will be deployed to the Utti Jaeger Regiment in Utti, Kouvola, and the Pori Brigade in Säkylä. During the exercise activity in the High North, the helicopters will be supported by the Jaeger Brigade, and operate from the Sodankylä and Kemijärvi airfields in Lapland. The British helicopters will take part also in spring exercises in Estonia.
The first exercise in which the British helicopters will participate during the spring is the Armoured Brigade-led Mighty Arrow 25, which will take place at Pohjankangas firing range and training area in Niinisalo from 24 April to 13 May 2025. Following this, the AH-64E Apache attack helicopters will take part in the Air Force Academy-led Mallet Strike 25 air defence exercise at Lohtaja firing range and training area from 13 to 22 May 2025.
More information about the Finnish Army's exercise activity in spring 2025:
- Army training exercises this spring to focus on strengthening joint operating
- Mighty Arrow 25 to strengthen immediate execution capability of Alliance’s mechanized forces
More information about the British Army's helicopters (army.mod.uk)
