United States B-52 bombers conducted air-to-ground drops in Rovajärvi firing range

Two U.S. B-52 Stratofortress bombers dropped guided JDAM bombs on targets in Rovajärvi firing range area on 6 March. Finnish Air Force F/A-18 Hornet fighters escorted the bombers to the target area.

The Air Force has trained with U.S. strategic bomber aircraft in Finnish airspace since July 2024. The United States regularly conducts Bomber Task Force deployments during which the bombers perform training missions with European NATO Allies. B-52 bombers carried out air-to-ground drops now for the first time in Finland.

‒ Air-to-ground drops in Rovajärvi firing range demonstrate our capability to execute joint fire missions. The close bilateral cooperation between Finland and the United States increases Finland’s defence capability in concrete terms. Joint operations with U.S. strategic bomber aircraft reinforce NATO’s collective defence and deterrence in the North, says Brigadier General Aki Puustinen, Chief of Staff Air Force Command Finland.

The objective of air-to-ground drops in Rovajärvi range area was to train Air Force and Army joint fires. Finnish Army and U.S. Air Force Joint Terminal Attack Controllers (JTAC) directed the drops that were conducted in accordance with the standard operating procedures and Finnish safety regulations.

The Air Force’s Hornet fighters have participated in Bomber Task Force missions in Sweden and Estonia during 2025.