Lapland Air Command
Encyclopedia
The Lapland Air Command is the peace-time Finnish Air Force
unit, responsible for the protection of the airspace of northern Finland
. The headquarters of the air command is located in the present-day province of Lapland, at the airport of Rovaniemi
.
The Lapland Air Command was founded in 1973, when the Tavastia Air Command was moved to Rovaniemi
. The unit was officially renamed into the Lapland Air Commandon in 1974. It was equipped with Saab Draken fighters. The wing was founded due to the increased importance of the airspace in Cold War
Europe. The Soviet Navy
had large installations on the Kola peninsula
, while NATO had a large number of aircraft in northern Norway. Both sides often held large wargames nearby.
In the early 2000s, the wing was equipped with F-18 Hornet fighters, the first were received in January 1999, and operative readiness was obtained in 2000. At the same time, all Drakens were retired.
The Wing's main duty is to guard and defend the air space, as well as to support the land forces. The wing trains conscripts for aerial surveillance, and for general service and support for the fighter flights. The Lapland Air Defence Regiment
is also located at the base.
The 11th Fighter Squadron
is the operational unit of the Lapland Air Command.
1st Flight:Fighter flight, equipped with F-18C/Ds 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
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 northern 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...
. The headquarters of the air command is located in the present-day province of Lapland, at the airport of Rovaniemi
Rovaniemi Airport
Rovaniemi Airport is the fifth biggest airport in Finland by annual number of passengers, located in Rovaniemi, Finland, about north of Rovaniemi city centre. The Arctic Circle crosses the runway closer to its northern end.- History :...
.
The Lapland Air Command was founded in 1973, when the Tavastia Air Command was moved to Rovaniemi
Rovaniemi
Rovaniemi is a city and municipality of Finland. It is the administrative capital and commercial centre of Finland's northernmost province, Lapland. It is situated close to the Arctic Circle and is between the hills of Ounasvaara and Korkalovaara, at the confluence of the Kemijoki River and its...
. The unit was officially renamed into the Lapland Air Commandon in 1974. It was equipped with Saab Draken fighters. The wing was founded due to the increased importance of the airspace in Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
Europe. The Soviet Navy
Soviet Navy
The Soviet Navy was the naval arm of the Soviet Armed Forces. Often referred to as the Red Fleet, the Soviet Navy would have played an instrumental role in a Warsaw Pact war with NATO, where it would have attempted to prevent naval convoys from bringing reinforcements across the Atlantic Ocean...
had large installations on the Kola peninsula
Kola Peninsula
The Kola Peninsula is a peninsula in the far northwest of Russia. Constituting the bulk of the territory of Murmansk Oblast, it lies almost completely to the north of the Arctic Circle and is washed by the Barents Sea in the north and the White Sea in the east and southeast...
, while NATO had a large number of aircraft in northern Norway. Both sides often held large wargames nearby.
In the early 2000s, the wing was equipped with F-18 Hornet fighters, the first were received in January 1999, and operative readiness was obtained in 2000. At the same time, all Drakens were retired.
The Wing's main duty is to guard and defend the air space, as well as to support the land forces. The wing trains conscripts for aerial surveillance, and for general service and support for the fighter flights. The Lapland Air Defence Regiment
Lapland Air Defence Regiment
Lapland Air Defence Regiment is a unit of the Finnish Army located in Rovaniemi. It was founded in 1989 and some 600 conscripts are trained there every year.- Organisation :...
is also located at the base.
The 11th Fighter Squadron
No. 11 Squadron, Finnish Air Force
Fighter Squadron 11 is a Finnish fighter squadron located in Rovaniemi, Lapland. It is the operational part of the Lapland Wing.-Organization:1st Flight:Fighter flight, flies F-18C/D and also trains mechanics...
is the operational unit of the Lapland Air Command.
Organization
Headquarters Flight1st Flight:Fighter flight, equipped with F-18C/Ds 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