U.S. Airmen, assigned to the 48th Fighter Wing, pose for a photo in front of a U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle and F-35A Lightning II during exercise Atlantic Trident 25 at Pirkkala Air Base, Finland, June 26, 2025. AT 25 is a tactical-level field training exercise hosted by the Finnish Air Force, focused on improving interoperability and integration between fourth- and fifth-generation fighter aircraft. Photo: U.S. Air Force, Airman 1st Class Sierra Casteel
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Air forces from the United States, United Kingdom, France, and Finland completed the two-week Atlantic Trident 25 exercise in Finland on 27 June.
The training aimed to strengthen coordination between fourth- and fifth-generation fighter aircraft and improve readiness for high-threat scenarios. The exercise ran from 16 to 27 June and took place at several Finnish bases, including Pirkkala, Rovaniemi, Halli, Kuopio, and Jyväskylä.
Lt. Gen. Jason Hinds, deputy commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Africa, said the exercise showed the participating nations were “ready to win decisively” if deterrence fails. “The confidence I saw in all Airmen was backed by readiness, interoperability and our ability to field lethal forces,” he said.
Participants conducted operations under the Agile Combat Employment model. They carried out rapid airfield repairs, cross-nation aircraft servicing, and multinational hot-pit refuelling. These drills were designed to simulate quick recovery and continued flight operations under combat conditions.
Air assets included U.S. F-35A Lightning II, F-15E Strike Eagle, and KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft. The UK Royal Air Force deployed Eurofighter Typhoons. The French Air and Space Force contributed Rafale fighters, E-3F Sentry, A330 MRTT, and A400M Atlas aircraft. The Finnish Air Force used its F/A-18 Hornets.
Col. Vincent, a French Rafale pilot, said the training focused on practical integration. “We know we can fight together, and we know we can exchange and distribute our capabilities,” he said.
The exercise also included logistics and command and control functions shared across national lines. Personnel trained to adapt to unfamiliar environments and collaborate in real-time scenarios. U.S. officials said this strengthened their capacity to operate in the High North and respond to rapid developments.
Finland took part in Atlantic Trident for the first time and co-led planning. Michael Goodwin, the lead planner from U.S. Air Forces in Europe, said Finnish cooperation was consistent and efficient throughout preparations.
Hinds added that trust among allied forces developed “at the unit level, down to the individual,” during the peacetime drills. He said the exercise focused on “readiness to win the high-end fight”.
HT
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Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi
