The goal of the exercises is to provide fighter pilots with AAR skills and currency coaching opportunities. Finnish F / A-18 pilots complete the AAR degree as part of their training.
The Lapland Air Commander will conduct the first 2021 AAR exercise in cooperation with the U.S. Air Force’s 100th Air Refueling Wing (100 ARW) at RAF Mildenhall, UK. A total of 8–14 Finnish F / A-18 Hornet multipurpose fighters and the American KC-135 Stratotanker will participate in the exercise.
The exercise will be flown in Finnish airspace in the border area of Rovaniemi, Kuusamo, Kajaani and Oulu as part of the daily air operations of the Finnish Air Force from 9 to 10 February. Finnish F / A-18 pilots fly from Rovaniemi, Rissala and Pirkkala air bases. The KC-135 operates outside RAF Mildenhall.
Air-to-air refueling exercises are part of the Defense Forces’ international training and exercise plan, which has been approved by the Finnish Ministry of Defense. The previous similar AAR exercise was held in September 2020.