In recent days, Finland has transformed its skies into a massive training ground. The country’s armed forces are conducting Protective Fence 25 — large-scale military exercises that serve both as a signal of determination and as a test of defensive capabilities amid growing turbulence in Europe.
Around 50 aircraft and 1,200 service members are taking part. The backbone of the drills consists of the Finnish Air Force’s F/A-18 Hornets, supported by Hawk jet trainers, NH90 helicopters, and a Dornier 228 patrol plane. Reinforcements arrived from abroad: Sweden deployed its JAS 39 Gripen fighters, while Sweden and Denmark sent C-130 Hercules transport planes. A key feature is dispersed basing: aircraft operate from Rovaniemi, Kuopio, Jyväskylä, Tampere, and also from civilian airports in Oulu, Vaasa, and Kokkola–Pietarsaari. An additional hub is Sweden’s Kallax Air Base in Luleå, underlining the high level of trust and coordination among neighbors.
The exercises cover Central Finland and Lapland, with active zones over Rovaniemi, Kajaani, Kuopio, Jyväskylä, and across the Gulf of Bothnia. Flights run from September 22 to 26, 2025, daily from morning until late evening — roughly 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Notably, there will be no night flights, easing the impact on local communities and civilian infrastructure.
The military is testing the full range of tactics: from simulated low-altitude missions to supersonic passes above 10 kilometers. To practice countering threats, aircraft deploy flares and chaff. For civilians, this appears as bright flashes in the sky or unusual radar signals, but it is all part of the planned scenarios. Ground units are also engaged, providing air defense and electronic warfare, making the drills truly comprehensive.
Protective Fence is embedded in the broader TARASSIS defense program, carried out under the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF). This coalition brings together the United Kingdom and ten partner nations, including the Nordic and Baltic states. While naval forces patrol the Baltic and ground troops train in the Baltics, Finland’s contribution is to guard the skies. This synchronized approach shows that the region’s defensive architecture functions as a single system.
There are also rarely highlighted details. For example, authorities in Vaasa issued early warnings about traffic restrictions near the airport during the drills. The Finnish Air Force emphasized that flares in the sky or radar disturbances are no cause for alarm but a normal part of training. These measures reflect transparent communication — the military operates alongside civilians while taking their daily lives into account.
Ultimately, Protective Fence 25 is more than a test of machinery. It is a rehearsal for rapid deployment, interoperability, and the ability to safeguard the northern skies in a crisis. Dispersed basing strengthens the resilience of the air fleet, making it impossible to disable with a single strike. For allies, the message is clear: the northern flank is not a vulnerable periphery but a core pillar of collective defense. In the long term, such exercises enhance the region’s resistance to external pressure, proving that nations with shared security interests are ready to act together — flexibly, swiftly, and effectively. Protective Fence becomes not just a drill but an aerial shield of confidence and resolve.
