RAMSTEIN, Germany – The Swedish Armed Forces conducts their annual air defence train Luftförsvarsövning (LFÖ 22) from May 16 to 25 integrating Finnish forces and supported by NATO air forces.
Amid the Swedish and Finnish utility course of for NATO membership, the annual Swedish national defence train LFÖ22 is happening in southern and central Sweden. Participating fighter plane, helicopters, air defence programs and floor forces are training ways, methods and procedures to keep up Swedish territorial integrity.
The Swedish Air Force is growing our capabilities – in direction of a robust and tactically superior power
The Finnish armed forces have been historically a participant on this train as they’re built-in within the Swedish defence posture. For the primary time, French Air Force Mirage-2000-5 fighters, at present stationed in Estonia, conducting NATO’s Air Policing within the Baltic area, joined the Swedish Partner’s train simulating opposing air forces through the situation.
“This contribution of NATO forces in a Partner exercise underscores the close relationship between the Allies and Finland and Sweden over the last decades,” mentioned Brigadier General Christoph Pliet, Deputy Chief of Staff Operations at Allied Air Command that abroad NATO’s air operations. “Particularly in the Baltic region, Allied Air Command has been working with the two regional Partners during countless exercises, training events and real-world situations in the domain of safeguarding our skies. This level of intensive cooperation underlines our collective commitment to the defence and security of the region,” added General Pliet.
A Finnish Air Force F-18 Hornet conducts an overflight with Swedish Air Force JAS 39-C Gripens: Archive Photo Courtesy: Finnish Air Force
Finnish F-18 Hornets taking part within the Swedish air protection train. Photo Courtesy: Finnish Air Force
French Air Force Mirage 2000-5 be part of the Swedish Partner's train for the primary time: Photo Courtesy: Swedish Air Force
“The Swedish Air Force is developing our capabilities – towards a strong and tactically superior force. Together with the Army and Navy we create a military problem to an opponent, denying them from conducting offensive operations against Swedish territory. We do that together with our Finnish friends in the Finnish Air Force. Together, we strengthen the security and stabilize our region,” mentioned Major General Carl-Johan Edström, Commander of the Swedish Air Force. “The Swedish national exercise, Air Defense Exercise 2022, confirms our capabilities to conduct air operations. Together with integrated Swedish GBAD and Finnish squadron in air defense exercise, we send a credible signal that we have a strong cooperation,” he added.
This is the second iteration of the Swedish national defence train LFÖ. It is a agency component of the Swedish Armed Forces’ coaching cycle. Finland has been contributing belongings to this train demonstrating the shut relationship between each NATO Partners in territorial defence issues.