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Air-to-air refueling training with the Multinational Multirole Tanker Transport Unit

Air Force
Publication date 16.4.2024 15.35
Press release
A330 MRTT tanker aircraft and three Finnish F/A-18 Hornet fighter jets
A330 MRTT tanker aircraft and three Finnish F/A-18 Hornet fighter jets. Photo: Finnish Air Force

The Finnish Air Force's F/A-18 Hornet fighter jets will fly training missions with the Multinational Multirole Tanker Transport Unit’s A330 MRTT tanker aircraft on 16–17 and 23–24 April 2024.

The objective of the air-to-air refueling (AAR) training missions is to gain, maintain and renew Finnish fighter pilots' AAR qualifications. Finnish F/A-18 pilots complete an AAR qualification as a part of their flight training. 

Lapland and Karelia Air Wings will carry out the training missions in cooperation with the Multinational Multirole Tanker Transport Unit (MMU). Formed by the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Norway and the Czech Republic, the MMU operates A330 MRTT tanker aircraft based at Eindhoven, the Netherlands, and at Cologne, Germany. 

The air-to-air refueling training missions will be flown in Finnish airspace in the area bordering on Rovaniemi, Kuusamo, Kajaani, Kuopio, Jyväskylä and Oulu as part of Finnish Air Force’s daily flight operations on 16–17 and 23–24 April 2024. The training events will involve Finnish F/A-18 Hornet fighter jets and an A330 MRTT tanker aircraft. The Finnish F/A-18s will fly from their homes bases in Rovaniemi and Rissala. The A330 MRTT will operate out of Rovaniemi Air Base. 

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