Karelian Air Command
Encyclopedia
The Karelian Air Command is the peace-time Finnish Air Force
unit, responsible for the protection of the airspace of eastern and southeastern Finland
. In spite of its name, the headquarters of the air command is not located in the Finnish historical province of Karelia, but in historical Savonia
and in the present-day province of Northern Savonia
, at the Kuopio Airport
in Siilinjärvi
.
The wing consists about 20 F-18 Hornets, belonging to the No. 31 Sqn
and six radar stations. The unit has about 600 personnel, of whom 450 are enlisted and the other 150 conscripts. The Headquarters no 7 is also located at the air force base.
The unit was created in 1918 as the Lento-Osasto II
. During World War II
it was to encompose the Fighter Squadrons 24, 26 and 28
. The unit was moved to Rissala after the wars, and the fighter wing was divided between Flying Regiments 2
and 3
. Flying Regiment 2, was later equipped with Fouga Magister
s and MiG-21s. The unit flew MiG-21s from 1960 until 1998, when it received its F-18 Hornets.
is the operational unit of the Karelian Wing. During Peace-time, its main duty is to guard its assigned air space, and if needed, to prevent unpermitted use of it. In order to be able to do so, it is equipped with some twenty F-18 Hornet fighters and 5 liaison aircraft. The wing has also an F-18 weapons training platform, called WTSAT or "Weapons Tactics and Situational Awareness Trainer". The unit has also a number of special vehicles, such as rescue and refueling vehicles.
1st Flight: Fighter flight, equipped with F-18C/D
s and also trains mechanics
2nd Flight: Fighter flight, equipped with F-18C/Ds and trains pilots
4th Flight: Liaison flight, equipped with Valmet Vinka, PA-31-350 Chieftain, Valmet L-90TP Redigo aircraft
Each flight has about 100 personnel, consisting of e.g.:
Conscripts are mainly used as help mechanics and as refuelers.
Finnish Air Force
The Finnish Air Force is one of the branches of the Finnish Defence Forces. Its peacetime tasks are airspace surveillance, identification flights, and production of readiness formations for wartime conditions...
unit, responsible for the protection of the airspace of eastern and southeastern Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
. In spite of its name, the headquarters of the air command is not located in the Finnish historical province of Karelia, but in historical Savonia
Savonia (historical province)
Savonia is a historical province in the east of Finland. It borders to Uusimaa, Tavastia, Ostrobothnia, and Karelia. Largest cities in Savo by population are Kuopio, Mikkeli, Savonlinna and Varkaus.-Administration:...
and in the present-day province of Northern Savonia
Northern Savonia
Northern Savonia is a region in eastern Finland. Kuopio is the largest city in the region.- Historical provinces :For history, geography and culture see: Savonia- Municipalities :Northern Savonia includes 21 municipalities.Seven of them are cities....
, at the Kuopio Airport
Kuopio Airport
Kuopio Airport is an airport in Siilinjärvi, Finland, about north of Kuopio city centre.It is currently the seventh busiest airport in Finland , as measured by the number of passengers...
in Siilinjärvi
Siilinjärvi
Siilinjärvi is a municipality of Finland. The name, in Finnish, means "Hedgehog Lake."It is located in Eastern Finland, in Northern Savonia, north of the city of Kuopio. The median age is relatively low; 23% of the population are under 15 years old. The main sources of income are services and...
.
The wing consists about 20 F-18 Hornets, belonging to the No. 31 Sqn
No. 31 Squadron, Finnish Air Force
Fighter Squadron 31 is a Finnish fighter squadron located near Kuopio. It is the operational part of the Karelia Wing.-Organization:1st Flight:Fighter flight, flies F-18C/D and also trains mechanics...
and six radar stations. The unit has about 600 personnel, of whom 450 are enlisted and the other 150 conscripts. The Headquarters no 7 is also located at the air force base.
The unit was created in 1918 as the Lento-Osasto II
Flying Regiment 2, Finnish Air Force
Flying Regiment 2 was fighter regiment of the Finnish Air Force during World War II.-Winter War:*No. 22 Squadron: fighter squadron*No. 24 Squadron: fighter squadron*No. 26 Squadron: fighter squadron...
. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
it was to encompose the Fighter Squadrons 24, 26 and 28
No. 28 Squadron, Finnish Air Force
No. 28 Squadron , renamed No. 28 Fighter Squadron was a fighter squadron of the Finnish Air Force during World War II. The squadron was part of Flying Regiment 2.-Winter War:*1st Flight **Detachment Sirén...
. The unit was moved to Rissala after the wars, and the fighter wing was divided between Flying Regiments 2
Flying Regiment 2, Finnish Air Force
Flying Regiment 2 was fighter regiment of the Finnish Air Force during World War II.-Winter War:*No. 22 Squadron: fighter squadron*No. 24 Squadron: fighter squadron*No. 26 Squadron: fighter squadron...
and 3
Flying Regiment 3, Finnish Air Force
Flying Regiment 3 was a fighter aircraft regiment of the Finnish Air Force. The regiment took part in the Continuation War and the Lapland War.-Continuation War:*No. 24 Squadron: fighter squadron*No. 26 Squadron: fighter squadron...
. Flying Regiment 2, was later equipped with Fouga Magister
Fouga Magister
The Fouga Magister is a 1950s French two-seat jet trainer. The related CM.175 Zéphyr was a carrier-capable version for the French Navy....
s and MiG-21s. The unit flew MiG-21s from 1960 until 1998, when it received its F-18 Hornets.
Fighter Squadron 31
The 31st Fighter SquadronNo. 31 Squadron, Finnish Air Force
Fighter Squadron 31 is a Finnish fighter squadron located near Kuopio. It is the operational part of the Karelia Wing.-Organization:1st Flight:Fighter flight, flies F-18C/D and also trains mechanics...
is the operational unit of the Karelian Wing. During Peace-time, its main duty is to guard its assigned air space, and if needed, to prevent unpermitted use of it. In order to be able to do so, it is equipped with some twenty F-18 Hornet fighters and 5 liaison aircraft. The wing has also an F-18 weapons training platform, called WTSAT or "Weapons Tactics and Situational Awareness Trainer". The unit has also a number of special vehicles, such as rescue and refueling vehicles.
Organization
Headquarters Flight1st Flight: Fighter flight, equipped with F-18C/D
F/A-18 Hornet
The McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet is a supersonic, all-weather carrier-capable multirole fighter jet, designed to dogfight and attack ground targets . Designed by McDonnell Douglas and Northrop, the F/A-18 was derived from the latter's YF-17 in the 1970s for use by the United States Navy and...
s and also trains mechanics
2nd Flight: Fighter flight, equipped with F-18C/Ds and trains pilots
4th Flight: Liaison flight, equipped with Valmet Vinka, PA-31-350 Chieftain, Valmet L-90TP Redigo aircraft
Each flight has about 100 personnel, consisting of e.g.:
- Pilots
- Technical personnel
- Rescue personnel (also civilians)
- Equipment personnel (also civilians)
- Air traffic controllers (also civilians)
- Civilians
Conscripts are mainly used as help mechanics and as refuelers.