Protective Fence 25 to boost Allied Airpower readiness with dispersed operations
NATO Allied Air Command
Sep 25 2025
RAMSTEIN, Germany -- From September 22 to 26, 2025, the Finnish Air Force are executing Exercise Protective Fence 25, bringing together around 50 aircraft and 1,200 personnel across Finland and Sweden.
"The objective of Protective Fence 25 is to strengthen the Finnish Air Force's defence capability and readiness," said Finnish Colonel Vesa Mäntylä, Exercise Director and Deputy Chief of Staff at Air Force Command Finland. "During the exercise, we will conduct large-force air operations from a dispersed basing posture, in line with our concept of operations."
Protective Fence 25 will be Finland's largest live-fly exercise in the Fall of 2025. Aircraft will operate from Finnish air bases in Rovaniemi, Kuopio-Rissala, Jyväskylä-Tikkakoski and Tampere-Pirkkala, as well as from Oulu, Vaasa and Kokkola-Pietarsaari airports, and Kallax Air Base in Luleå, Sweden.
In addition to Finnish F/A-18 Hornets, Hawk trainers, NH90 helicopters and support aircraft, the Swedish Air Force will contribute Gripen fighters and C-130 Hercules transports, while Denmark will also take part with Hercules aircraft. The Finnish Border Guard will add a Dornier 228 surveillance aircraft, and the Finnish Army will join with ground-based air defence and electronic warfare units.
Protective Fence 25 is coordinated with TARASSIS, a UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force series of activities taking place across the Nordic and Baltic regions in September and October. This approach reflects NATO's Agile Combat Employment concept, dispersing aircraft and crews across multiple locations to enhance survivability, adaptability and rapid reinforcement.
"By exercising dispersed operations together with Allies, we strengthen our ability to fight as part of a larger coalition. Protective Fence 25 demonstrates our capacity to operate flexibly across Finland and beyond, ensuring we remain ready to respond in any situation," Mäntylä added.
Story by Allied Air Command Public Affairs Office
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