Finnish Air Force to participate in the Finnish Navy’s exercise activity with the USS Kearsarge

The Finnish Navy will train together with the United States Navy’s amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge in the northern Baltic Sea in August. The Finnish Air Force will take part in the exercise activity with F/A-18 Hornet multi-role fighters on 9‒19 August 2022.

The exercise activity of the Finnish Navy, the United States Navy and the United States Marine Corps will involve significant air activity in the northern Baltic Sea, and in the Hankoniemi and Upinniemi areas on the coast. 

The air activity will involve Finnish Air Force F/A-18 Hornets and United States Marine Corps AV-8B Harrier II fighters operating from the USS Kearsarge. For the Finnish Air Force, the aim of the exercise activity is to develop the planning of international air and joint operations, as well as to build interoperability with the United States Navy and the United States Marine Corps. 

Utti Jaeger Regiment will support troop transports with NH90 helicopters together with United States Army aviation CH-47 Chinook and UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters. Additionally, troop transports will be supported by United States Marine Corps MV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft as well as AH-1Z Viper and UH-1Y Venom helicopters operating from the USS Kearsarge.