Fighter jets land on highway in Finnish air force exercise

Finnish and Italian fighter jets have landed on a highway in Jokioinen as part of a Finnish Air Force exercise, Finnish public broadcaster Yle reports.

The exercise, named Imminent Field 26, is led by the Satakunta Air Command and involves all flying squadrons of the Finnish Air Force. Italian Air Force jets are taking part for the first time in Finland.

The aim of the exercise is to practice dispersed operations from different bases, using a highway strip as a temporary runway to improve defensive capability.

The exercise has closed Highway 2 in Jokioinen since Monday and the closure will remain in place until Friday.

Drone monitoring has been included in the exercise following recent drone sightings in Finland, including a warning in the Uusimaa region last Friday. The exercise uses a sensor to detect drones in the area, but no heavy drones are involved. A temporary drone flight ban is in place and the Air Force is monitoring it. Colonel Markus Leivo, commander of the Satakunta Air Command, said that a protection unit can detain drone operators but no such activity has been observed so far.

The Italian Air Force stated in a press release that the exercise gives pilots and ground crew experience with take-offs and landings on short and unconventional surfaces, in this case a highway, and tests how the F-35B performs in unusual conditions.

Colonel Leivo said the ability to operate from multiple dispersed bases is critical for defense. The highway base in Jokioinen can be set up quickly; it was closed early Monday morning and the exercise was running by 9 a.m. Tuesday. In crisis situations, a base could be established even faster.

The video shows Italian F-35B jets and Finnish Hornet fighters during the exercise.