Nordic exercise sees F-35A conduct first roadway operations

A Royal Norwegian Air Force prepares to take off from a Finnish road, during the type’s first dispersed operation that was recently logged on Exercise ‘Baana 23′. (Finnish Air Force)

The Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) has operated from a roadway for the first time during Exercise ‘Baana 23′ in Finland.

A pair of Royal Norwegian Air Force (RoNAF) F-35As performed the milestone on 21 September, landing on and taking off from a dedicated stretch of motorway near the Finnish town of Tervo as part of a wider dispersal of allied aircraft.

“This is a milestone, not only for the [Royal] Norwegian Air Force but also for the Nordic countries and for NATO,” Major General Rolf Folland, chief of the RoNAF, said. “This demonstrates our ability to execute a concept of dispersal. Fighter jets are vulnerable on the ground, so being able to use small airfields – and now motorways – increases our survivability in war.”

The two F-35As landed on the motorway at about 1500 h local time, immediately performing a ‘hot’ refuelling (with the engine running) before departing for a simulated mission.