Finnish Air Force to join NATO’s exercise in Netherlands

Finland will deploy five F/A-18 Hornet fighter jets to the Ramstein Flag 25 exercise scheduled to be held at Leeuwarden Air Base in the Netherlands from March 31 to April 11, said Finnish Defence Forces in a press release on Monday.

Ramstein Flag is the NATO Allied Air Command’s multinational live-fly exercise, now being held for the second time.

First conducted in Greece last year, this year’s exercise takes place in conjunction with the Royal Netherlands Air Force’s Frisian Flag exercise.

The Finnish Air Force is participating in Ramstein Flag for the first time with a fighter detachment. Karelia Air Wing plans and carries out the Finnish deployment to the exercise.

In 2025, Ramstein Flag involves a total of 15 Allied nations and more than 90 aircraft operating from air bases in the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and Denmark.

The main operating base for the exercise is Leeuwarden Air Base in the Netherlands, where also Finnish F/A-18 Hornet fighter jets will be deployed.

The air activity takes place mainly over the North Sea. The objective of the exercise is to train Allied air forces’ rapid response as part of NATO’s collective defence in Article 5 scenarios.

For the Finnish Air Force, the objective is to develop the integration of 4th and 5th generation fighter jets, increase interoperability with Allies in large-force multinational air operations, and enhance NATO’s collective defence and deterrence as a member of the Alliance.

“Participation in the Ramstein Flag 25 exercise enables a wide variety of mission types to be planned and executed together with Allies. Thanks to the different fighter jets and sensors of the Allies, we can optimize the performance of our F/A-18 Hornets. Finland will soon join the growing European F-35 community, so the development of the integration of 4th and 5th generation fighter jets is important for us. Deploying to the home base of the Royal Netherlands Air Force’s F-35A Lightning II jets will support close cooperation,” said Major General Timo Herranen, Commander of the Finnish Air Force.

Priorities for Ramstein Flag 25 include exercising Counter Anti-Access/Area Denial (C-A2AD), Integrated Air and Missile Defence (IAMD), Agile Combat Employment (ACE), and seamless information sharing across Allied nations. In addition to fighter jets, the exercise involves tankers, surveillance aircraft, special forces and maritime units.

“Ramstein Flag 25 underscores the Alliance’s determination to adapt, evolve, and deter potential threats across the Euro-Atlantic region. This year’s exercise builds on the successes of Ramstein Flag 2024 and continues to push the boundaries of realistic, high-intensity training to enhance NATO’s deterrence and defence posture,” said General James Hecker, Commander of NATO Allied Air Command.

Leeuwarden, the main operating base of the exercise, is one of the two home bases of the Royal Netherlands Air Force’s F-35A Lightning II fighter jets. For the host nation, the objective of the exercise is to develop its capabilities and reinforce interoperability across the Alliance.

“We are proud to host this year’s edition of Ramstein Flag in the Netherlands. The ability and will to fight together among Allied Air Forces remains NATO’s most significant deterrent. This high-end exercise offers a unique opportunity for the Alliance and its member nations to enhance their readiness,” said Lieutenant General André Steur, Commander of the Royal Netherlands Air Force.