F/A-18s used in JASSM integration work returned back to Finland

In April 2016, Finnish Air Force transferred two F/A-18C Hornet Multi-Role fighters to the United States for the integration work of the long range Joint Air-to Surface Standoff (JASSM) missile to the Finnish F/A-18 fleet. After succesful completion of the integration, the aircraft returned to Finland on a ferry flight taking place from 9 to 12 May.

Finnish Air Force F/A-18C bearing the registration HN-410 taxiing after the last leg of the ferry flight from the United States at Pirkkala Air Base on 12 May.

In April 2016, Finnish Air Force transferred two F/A-18C Hornet Multi-Role fighters to the United States for the integration work of the long range Joint Air-to Surface Standoff (JASSM) missile to the Finnish F/A-18 fleet. The integration work included two successful test-launches of the missile at Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake in March 2018. The two F/A-18s bearing registrations HN-410 and 419 were transferred back to Finland on a ferry flight starting from Patuxent River, Maryland on 9 May.

After stopovers in Bangor, Maine and Prestwick, Scotland the F/A-18s landed at Satakunta Air Command’s Pirkkala Air Base on Saturday May 12. During the ferry flight the jets were accompanied by an Omega Air Tanker KDC-10 that brought Finnish Air Force material used during the JASSM integration work in United States to Helsinki-Vantaa Airport.

During the ferry flight the Finnish Air force F/A-18s were accompanied by an Omega Air Refueling KDC-10 tanker. The tanker jet carrying Finnish Air Force material used in the United States during the integration work, was unloaded at Helsinki-Vantaa Airport on 12 May.