F-35 Fighters are Landing On Highways in Finland (Like as in Near Russia)
Two U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning II stealth fighter jets conducted highway landing operations in Finland, marking the first time U.S. F-35s performed such a mission in Europe.
Summary and Key Points: Two U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning II stealth fighter jets conducted highway landing operations in Finland, marking the first time U.S. F-35s performed such a mission in Europe.
-The exercise, part of the Agile Combat Employment (ACE) concept, demonstrated the jets’ ability to operate from impromptu airstrips near conflict zones, only 120 miles from Russia’s border.
-The operation underscores U.S. and NATO readiness while testing the F-35's expeditionary capabilities.
-The F-35, available in three versions, remains a leading multirole stealth fighter, with mission versatility ranging from air superiority to electronic warfare.
U.S. F-35 Stealth Jets Land on Finnish Highway Near Russia in Historic Operation
Last week, two U.S. F-35A Lightning II stealth fighter jets took off from the United Kingdom and landed on a highway in Finland.
The mission was designed to test the expeditionary capabilities of stealth fighter jets and to send Moscow a message about the skills of American and NATO pilots.
Stealth Fighter Jets in Highway Operations
On Sept. 4, two U.S. Air Force F-35As from the 493rd Fighter Squadron conducted austere landing operations on a highway strip in Finland. The landing site was about 120 miles from the Russian border.
The aircraft took off from RAF Lakenheath in the United Kingdom and flew approximately 1,300 miles to their destination.
The mission was part of the Agile Combat Employment, or ACE, a concept that seeks to disperse aircraft and resources to proper and impromptu airfields in a conflict.
The two jets landed on a highway about 6,000 feet long. Usually, F-35A Lightning IIs require about 8,000 feet of runway, or 1.55 miles, to land. Although the F-35 has landed on highways before, this was the first time U.S. F-35s conducted highway ops in Europe.
“The successful first-ever landing of our fifth-generation F-35 on a highway in Europe is a testament to the growing relationship and close interoperability we have with our Finnish allies,” Gen. James Hecker, commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa, said.
The Finnish Air Force is an expert in highway ops, maximizing the capabilities of its F/A-18 Hornet fighter jets.
“The opportunity to learn from our Finnish counterparts improves our ability to rapidly deploy and employ airpower from unconventional locations and reflects the collective readiness and the agility of our forces,” Gen. Hecker added.
The F-35 Lightning II Stealth Fighter Jet
The F-35 Lightning II is a multirole, stealth fighter jet and probably the most advanced combat aircraft in the skies today. It comes in three versions – F-35A, F-35B, and F-35C – and is operated or will be operated by 19 countries. Other countries are showing interest in acquiring it.
The F-35A is the conventional version of the aircraft that takes off and lands in solid runways, including impromptu landing strips.
The F-35B is the Short Take-off, Vertical Landing version that can take off and land like a helicopter. This ability gives the F-35B remarkable flexibility and great expeditionary capabilities.
Finally, the F-35C is the carrier version of the stealth fighter jet and is specifically designed to operate from aircraft carriers. This is the rarest iteration of the aircraft, and only the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps operate it.
Regardless of their structural differences, the three versions of the F-35 are essentially the same aircraft in terms of mission sets. They can credibly conduct Strategic Attack, Air Superiority; Close Air Support; Electronic Warfare; Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance; Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses; and Destruction of Enemy Air Defense.
About the Author:
Stavros Atlamazoglou is a seasoned defense journalist specializing in special operations and a Hellenic Army veteran (national service with the 575th Marine Battalion and Army HQ). He holds a BA from the Johns Hopkins University and an MA from the Johns Hopkins’ School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). His work has been featured in Business Insider, Sandboxx, and SOFREP.
Image Credit: Creative Commons.
