Finnish Air Force Hornets to train with US Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker.

The Finnish Air Force Hornets will be training with the U.S. Air Force's KC-135 Stratotanker 9-10. February 2021.

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F / A-18 Hornet and KC-135 Stratotanker(Picture source: Finnish Air Force)

The goal of the exercises conducted twice a year with the US Air Force is to train, maintain and renew the air refueling qualifications of Finnish fighter pilots. Completion of the qualification is part of the training of Hornet pilots.

The Lapland Air Force will organize the first air refueling exercise in 2021 in co-operation with the 100th Air Refueling Wing of the United States Air Force, which is located at the British Mildenhall air base. The exercise will be attended by 8–14 Finnish F / A-18 Hornet multipurpose fighters and one US KC-135 Stratotanker air refueling aircraft.

The exercise will be flown in the exercise area between Rovaniemi, Kuusamo, Kajaani and Oulu as part of the Air Force's daily flight operations from 9 to 10 October. February. The Air Force Hornets fly from their home bases in Rovaniemi, Rissala and Pirkkala. The KC-135 Stratotanker operates from its own home base in Mildenhall.

Air refueling exercises are part of the Defense Forces' international training and exercise activities approved by the Ministry of Defense. The previous similar exercise was carried out in September 2020.