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Swedish air force Gripen jet fighter.

7 April 2021

SwAF Gripens Train with Finnish Hornets

2 min read

The Swedish Air Force Gripens and the Finnish Air Force Hornets recently participated in a Cross Border Training (CBT) in northern Sweden.

“Cross Border Training leads participants to plan and implement flight operations together and learn the best practices from each other. In 2021, we have been conducting CBT rounds for seven weeks now,” says Lt. Col. Tomi Likkanen, the Commander of the Lapland Flight 11 team.

The two participating Gripen fighters from the Kallax Air Force Base performed both offensive counterattack (OCA) and defensive counterattack (DCA) activities.

The two air forces have been training together for many years. Last year, Finnish Air Force's largest exercise Ruska 20 had the participation of more than 60 aircraft and 4800 people. Swedish Air Force Gripen fighters performed several low altitude operations, and missions to hone combat readiness 24*7 as a part of Ruska 20.

In January 2019, Saab submitted its proposal for the Finnish HX fighter procurement which includes Gripen aircraft, both single-seat Gripen E and dual-seat Gripen F and GlobalEye Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft. The offer also includes transfer of maintenance, repair and overhaul capabilities to local industry, production of aircraft and an establishment of a Gripen sustainment and development centre in Finland.

Read the full story here.

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