Nordic Air Forces in a joint air operation over the Baltic Sea
The Nordic Air Forces conducted Nordic Combat Enhanced Training over the Baltic Sea in order to strengthen NATO´s collective defense and deterrence. Fighter jets from Finland, Sweden and Denmark attacked an enemy presence on Swedish territory.
The operation showed the combined capability for air operations within the framework of Nordic Airpower Concept (NAPC) and NATO. NAPC includes joint planning and command of air operations, coordinated development and use of Nordic air bases, enhanced joint situational awareness, and joint education, training, and exercises.
Colonel Carl-Fredrik Edström from the Swedish Air Force leads the Nordic Division that was established at the Norwegian Joint Air Operation Centre (JAOC) in Bodø in January this year.
‒ The security situation and expectations mean that we must rapidly transition from planning to action within NAPC and the Nordic Division. This Nordic Combat Enhanced Training will drive the cooperation forward, and we have tested the foundational conditions to enable virtual collaboration from each nation in planning and directing Nordic air operations. The joint operation shows that we are well on our way toward the ultimate goal - Nordic Air Forces Fighting as One, Colonel Edström says.
Nordic Combat Enhanced Training – stronger together
The mission included a common Nordic Air Tasking Order (ATO), pre-planned and dynamic targeting and Joint Tactical Air Controller (JTAC).
‒ The close cooperation between the Nordic Air Forces has developed fast over the last couple of years. Our bond is strengthening – leadership is engaging regularly, and we routinely coordinate operations. This Nordic Combat Enhanced Training event was the first time we actually exercised one of our primary objectives, which is to plan, order and execute a complex tactical mission, says Colonel Søren W. Andersen, Chief of National Air Operations Centre, Royal Danish Air Force.
Finland participated in the Nordic Combat Enhanced Training event with four F/A-18 Hornet fighter jets, Sweden with four JAS 39 Gripen fighter jets, and Denmark with two F-16 fighter jets. The Finnish F/A-18s deployed from Karelia Air Wing to Blekinge Wing at Ronneby Air Base in Sweden, where Finnish and Swedish mechanics carried out cross-servicing of the jets.
‒ During the mission, the Finnish Air Force operated together with Swedish JAS 39 Gripens and Danish F-16s. Integrating and cross-servicing fighter jets with our Nordic NATO Allies is particularly important to us, because stronger Nordic cooperation will strengthen NATO’s collective defence and deterrence”, says Colonel Vesa Mäntylä, Deputy Chief of Staff, Air Force Command Finland.
‒ From a Danish perspective we saw valuable training and strong networking for our F-16 crews. But the most important effect for us was to see how effective a well-coordinated combined Nordic effort can be, even when we just employed a small part of our Air Forces, Colonel Andersen says.
Read more about the cooperation of the Nordic Air Forces:
