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The sortie played like a textbook encounter in a defensive counter-air mission, Goldfein said, commending the \u201cexceptional\u201d quality of the Finnish pilots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Goldfein\u2019s pilot flew in a two-aircraft formation against four other jets. The fighter was tasked with preventing the enemy from bombing a key target. The experience allowed the U.S. general to see Finnish tactics in action, hear communications across the radio, and observe how the Finnish pilot used radar and data links.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHe is getting a view on how we operate. Now he can see with his own eyes and hear the discussion,\u201d said Col. Juha-Pekka Keranen, deputy chief of staff for Finland\u2019s air force. \u201cThat\u2019s the main point.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Meanwhile, Russia sent a message of its own, sending a heavy bomber, fighter and airborne early warning and control aircraft to points in international airspace nearby Finland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFinnish Air Force F\/A-18s on #QRA [quick reaction alert] were scrambled on 15 July to identify Russian Tu-160, A-50 and Su-35 aircraft in international airspace above the Gulf of Finland and the northern part of the Baltic Sea. The airspace of Finland was not violated,” reads a tweet from the official Finnish Air Force Twitter account.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A spokesman for the Finnish air force told Defense News that Goldfein\u2019s jet was not on quick reaction alert duty, but could not elaborate on which base had scrambled aircraft for the intercept.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In its own tweets, the Russian ministry of defense stated that the Tu-160 bombers had completed a planned seven-hour flight over the Baltic Sea in international airspace on Monday. At certain stages of the route, Russian aircraft were accompanied by Danish air force F-16s, Finnish F\/A-18s and Swedish Gripen fighter jets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Russia\u2019s activity in the region was a source of conversation between Goldfein and Finnish military officials, including air chief Maj. Gen. Pasi Jokinen and defense chief Gen. Jarmo Lindberg, during his two-day trip to the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They spoke about a variety of topics, including air base resiliency, space operations, command and control capabilities and opportunities for cooperation in a changing threat environment, Goldfein said. Before the trip to Finland, Goldfein met with Estonian defense officials on July 13, marking his first stop at the country as the head of the U.S. Air Force.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Unsurprisingly, both countries see Russia\u2019s invasion of Crimea as a \u201csignificant turning point” and have become more cognizant of their eastern neighbor\u2019s military capability after its takeover of the Ukrainian territory in 2014, Goldfein said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c[There are] huge seeds of distrust between them and Russia. Let\u2019s just say they take the threat seriously and their interest in partnering with us is incredibly important to them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That sentiment was echoed by Jokinen, Goldfein\u2019s Finnish counterpart, who said that Finland\u2019s air force has been operating in a \u201cnew normal\u201d since the annexation of Crimea, which prompted a rise in activity around the country\u2019s airspace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cActivity in the Baltic region and in this region is in a little bit elevated level, let\u2019s put it that way. And of course, our eastern neighbor is actively doing things in Syria and eastern Ukraine. It has had some effects,\u201d he said, adding that, \u201cThings are relatively stable. We have good relations in all the directions.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nonetheless, the pilots of Kuopio Air Base keep busy. The installation is home to almost half of Finland\u2019s 64 F\/A-18C\/Ds \u2014 Finnish air force officials declined to comment on the exact number of jets and pilots based there \u2014 but in a normal day, about 10 of those jets are flying three to four times, said Col. Timo Herranen, commander of Karelia Air Command, located at Kuopio.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe activity has increased over the past five years,\u201d he said. \u201cWe don\u2019t fly more; our flight hours remain stable. But I would say we have slightly more operational flights and air policing flights.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Finnish Hornets have recently been modernized with new displays and weapons capability, and the new command and control infrastructure that has also been fielded over the past couple years is bearing fruit for operators.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOn the whole it\u2019s easier and more efficient to distribute data to all players, and that\u2019s what we are [hoping for],” Herranen said. \u201cIf a fighter sees something, he or she can distribute the data to other fighters and other command posts, and the data goes back and forth, for example.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Updated on 7\/16\/2019 with information about the Finnish encounters with Russian aircraft. <\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n