F / A-18 Hornet fighter of the Finnish Air Force attends Arctic Challenge 2015 exercise in Rovaniemi, Finland on May 27, 2015. File Photo – Lehtikuva.
The Air Force's Hornet in-air refuelling training began in northern Finland on Monday.
Lasting until Friday, a dozen multi-purpose fighter jets, and the Lapland, Satakunta and Karelia Air Command will participate in the exercise on a daily basis.
The refuelling will be carried out mainly over Rovaniemi, Kuusamo, Oulu, Kajaani and the adjacent areas from 8 am to 4 pm. The refuelling tanker in the exercise is a US Air Force Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker, which is stationed in the United Kingdom.
The purpose of the exercise is to train and maintain the Hornet pilots' airborne refuelling skills that are required during, for example, international flight operation exercises.
A second air refuelling training in the country is due this year in September.
