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Finnish Air Force

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Finnish Air Force
Suomen ilmavoimat
Finska flygvapnet
Finnish Air Force emblem
ActiveMarch 6, 1918–present
CountryFinland
RoleAir defence
Size3,100 personnel, 38,000 personnel mobilized
Motto(s)Qualitas Potentia Nostra, "Quality is our Strength"
EngagementsFinnish Civil War
Winter War
Continuation War
Commanders
CommanderLieutenant General Heikki Lyytinen
Insignia
Roundel

The Finnish Air Force (FAF) (Finnish: Ilmavoimat, Swedish: Flygvapnet) 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.[1] As a separate branch of the military, the Finnish Air Force is one of the oldest in the world, having existed officially since 6 March 1918[2].

History

The old roundel on Finnish Air Force's air planes used from 1918 to 1945.

During the Finnish Civil War the Whites had to rely on foreign support, both with planes and aircraft. The neutral Sweden refused to send men and material, but individual Swedish citizens wanted to help the Finnish Army. The editor of the Swedish daily magazine Aftonbladet, Waldemar Langlet, bought a N.A.B. Albatros aircraft with the funds gathered by the "Finland's friends" organization from the Nordiska Aviatik A.B. factory. This was the first aircraft to arrive from Sweden. It was flown via Haparanda on 25 February 1918 by the Swedish pilots John-Allan Hygerth (who became the first commander of the Finnish Air Force on March 10) and Per Svanbäck. The aircraft made a stop at Kokkola and a forced landing in Jakobstad when the aircraft's engine broke down. The aircraft was later given the designation F2. in the FAF inventory, where "F" came from the Swedish word "Flygmaskin" (aircraft).[3]

The Swedish count Eric von Rosen gave the Finnish White government its second aircraft, a Thulin Typ D. A photograph of this plane can be found in the book by Christopher Shores[4]. Lieutenant Nils Kindberg flew the aircraft to Vaasa on March 6 1918, having von Rosen as a passenger. This aircraft was given against the will of Sweden, and no flight permit had been given, resulting in a 100 kronor fine for Kindberg for leaving the country without permission. This aircraft is considered by some to be the first aircraft in the Finnish Air Force, since the Finnish Air Force does not consider having existed during the Civil War and since it was only the Red side who flew some aircraft with the help of some Russian pilots. The von Rosen aircraft was given the designation F1.[3] The air force was officially called the "aviation force" for its first years. The birth of the Finnish Air Force was very early: for instance, the RAF was founded as an independent branch on April 1 1918 and the Swedish Flygvapnet in 1925.

Von Rosen had painted his personal good luck charm on the Thulin Typ D aircraft, which was a blue swastika. This was to become the insignia of the Finnish Air Force. The white circular background was created when the Finns tried to paint over the Thulin air academy advertisement.[5] The swastika was officially taken into use after an order by Mannerheim on March 18 1918. The FAF had to change the swastika insignia after 1945, due to an allied control commission decree, where all swastikas had to be abandoned. However, the original swastika can still be found in regimental flags and medals, especially in the air force.

The F.1 aircraft was soon destroyed in an accident, killing its crew. Another disaster on September 7 in the 1920s are however considered a memorial day for the Finnish Air Force's lost pilots.

The Finnish Air Force assigns the matriculation numbers to its aircraft by assigning each type a two-letter code following by dash and an individual aircraft number. The two-letter code refers to the aircraft type name, such as HN for F/A-18 Hornet, DK for Saab J-35 Draken, VN for Valmet Vinka etc.

Winter War 1939-40

The Winter War began on November 30, 1939 by the Soviet Union bombing 21 Finnish municipalities. From the Soviet Union's estimated 5,000 airplanes in 1939 about 700 fighters and 800 medium bombers were brought to Finland for the Red Army's ground forces command. The bombardment of Finnish industry and railways was not efficient.

The Finnish army had 17 bombers and 31 fighters at the beginning of the Winter War. There were 54 liaison aircraft but 20 of them were used only for messengers. The most modern aircraft in the Finnish arsenal were Bristol Blenheim bombers built under license in Finland. The primary fighter aircraft was the Fokker D.XXI, a cheap but maneuverable design with fabric-covered tube fuselage and fixed landing gear. On paper, this force should have been no match for the attacking Soviet Red Air Force.

The Finnish command had learned that the new German Blitzkrieg tactics involved the destruction of enemy aircraft on the ground at their airfields. In order to prevent similar destruction, Finnish planes were decentralized to many different airfields and hidden in forests. Fake targets were made and many airfields also had shrapnel protection for the planes. Soviet air raids on Finnish airfields usually caused little or no damage as a result, and often resulted in interception of the attackers by the Finns as the bombers flew homeward.

The Finnish Air Force shot down 218 Soviet Air planes during the Winter War while losing only 47 to enemy fire. The Finnish anti-aircraft is also said to have shot down 314 enemy planes. 30 Soviet planes were captured -- "kills" that landed more or less intact within Finland and were quickly repaired.

For a complete list of Finnish Air Force units during the Winter War, click here

Continuation War 1941-44

Finnish Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-2s during the Continuation War.

The Finnish Air Force was prepared better for the Continuation War, with 550 planes, though many were considered second-rate and thus "exportable" by their countries of origin. Finland purchased a large number of aircraft during the Winter War, but few of those reached service during the short conflict. Politics also played a factor, since Hitler did not wish to antagonize the Soviet Union by allowing aircraft exports through German-controlled territory during the conflict. New aircraft types were in place by the time hostilities with Russia resumed in 1941. Small numbers of Hawker Hurricanes arrived from England, Morane-Saulnier M.S.406s from France, Fiat G.50s from Italy, a few dozen Curtiss Hawk 75s captured by the Germans in France and Norway then sold to Finland, and numerous Brewster B239s from the neutral USA strengthened the FiAF. The FiAF proved capable of holding its own in the upcoming battles with the Red Air Force. Older models, like the Fokker D.XXI and Gloster Gladiator, were replaced in front-line combat units with the new aircraft.

The FiAF's main mission was to achieve air superiority over Finland and prevent Soviet air power from reinforcing their front lines. The fighter squadrons were very successful in the Finnish offensive of 1941. A stripped-down, more maneuverable, and significantly lightened version of the American Brewster B239 "Buffalo" was the FiAF's main fighter until 1943. Results with this fighter were very good, even though the type was considered to be a failure in the US Navy & with British Far East forces. In the Finnish use, the Brewster had a victory rate of 32:1 - 459 kills while losing only 15. German Bf 109s replaced the B239 as the primary front-line fighter of the FiAF in 1943, though the Buffalos continued in secondary roles until the end. Other types, especially the Italian Fiat G.50 and Curtiss Hawk 75 also proved capable in the hands of well-trained Finnish pilots. Various Russian designs also saw action when lightly-damaged "kills" were repaired and made airworthy.

Dornier 17s (received as a gift from Hermann Göring in 1942) and Junkers 88s gave more capacity to the bombing capability of the Finnish Air Force. The bomber units flew assorted missions with varying results, but a large part of their time was spent in training. Thus the bomber squadrons of Flying Regiment 4 were ready for the summer battles of 1944, which included for example the Battle of Tali-Ihantala.

While the FiAF was successful in its mission, the conditions were not easy. Spare parts for the FiAF planes were scarce -- parts from the US (Buffalo & Hawk), Britain (Hurricanes), and Italy (G.50) were unavailable for much of the war. Repairs took often a long time, and the State Aircraft Factory was burdened with restoration/repair of Soviet war booty planes, foreign aircraft with many hours of flight time, and the development of indigenous Finnish fighter types.

Finland was required to expel or intern remaining German forces as part of its peace agreement with the Soviets in mid-1944. As a result, the final air battles are against the retreating Luftwaffe.

The Finnish Air Force did not bomb any civilian targets during either war.[citation needed] Curiously, overflying Soviet towns and bases was also forbidden, as to avoid any unneeded provocations and to spare equipment.

The Finnish Air Force shot down 1621 Soviet air planes while losing 210 own planes during the Continuation war 1941-44 according to Kalevi Keskinen's and Kari Stenman's book "Aerial Victories 1-2".

For a complete list of Finnish Air Force units during the Continuation War, click here

Current aircraft inventory

Main article: List of aircraft in the Finnish Air Force

Aircraft

Fighters

  • McDonnell Douglas F-18C Hornet (HN) is the most important weapon of the air force. 57 aircraft were originally acquired, but one has been destroyed in an accident and another one has been converted into a two-seater. 55 aircraft.
  • McDonnell Douglas F-18D Hornet (HN) is a two-seated fighter, of which 7 units were originally acquired. The number is 8 today due to the conversion of one F-18C. 8 aircraft.

Advanced trainers

  • BAe Hawk Mk.51/51A (HW) is a two-seated advanced fighter trainer. 57 aircraft were obtained, 7 have been destroyed in various accidents. Another 18 Mk.66s will be acquired from Swiss surplus stocks. Deliveries begin in 2008.[6] 49 aircraft.

Transport aircraft

  • Learjet 35A/S (LJ). Originally a business jet, three were acquired for service as liaison and target towing aircraft. 3 aircraft.
  • Fokker F27 (FF). One F.27-100 and one F.27-400M are used as transport aircraft for the parachute rangers. Will soon be phased out of service. 2 aircraft.
  • EADS CASA C-295M (CC). Transport aircraft for the parachute troops. 2 aircraft in service, 1 more on order[7].

Trainer aircraft

Liaison aircraft


Certain aircraft are scheduled for replacement: The Fokker F.27s will continue to serve side-by-side with the C-295Ms but will be replaced in a few years time.[1]. The Hawk Mk.51s and 51A's are to be replaced by new planes of a so far unknown model in the next decade. The Piper PA-31s will be replaced by 8 new liaison aircraft. Tenders have been invited from Pilatus Aircraft, Raytheon Aircraft Company and B-N Group. [2].

There are also plans to purchase 2-3 larger transport aircraft, to fulfill the requirements for domestic operations and for troop and logistics transports in international operations, as well as to form a tactical reserve for the evacuating of people from hazardous areas. The suggestions range from the Airbus A330 MRTT, Airbus A400M to the C-17 Globemaster III. [3]

Helicopters

The Finnish Air Force operated helicopters until the end of the 1990s when all were transferred to the army wing. All helicopters are attached to the Utti Jaeger Regimen't Helicopter Battallion at Utti Jaeger Regiment. Helicopter types include Hughes 500D, Hughes 500E, Mil Mi-8T, and Mil Mi-8P. Twenty NHI NH90 are on order.

UAVs

All UAVs are currently operated by the Army's Artillery brigade. The UAV Unit is stationed in Niinisalo. The Army operates the RUAG Ranger. Patria has also developed a Mini-UAV, which has been field tested by the Finnish Army.

F-18 Hornet

The F-18 Hornet is the Finnish Air Force variant of the Boeing IDS F/A-18 Hornet multi-role attack and fighter aircraft. It lacks certain avionics, target acquisition and weapon control features, limiting its capability to engage ground targets. The variant is also used by the Swiss Air Force.

The decision to purchase the aircraft (64 in total, with 7 two-seat F-18D models and 57 single-seated F-18C models) was made in 1992, soon after the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union. The original plan was to buy about 40 western fighters and about 20 Soviet fighters due to political reasons, but the collapse of the Soviet Union removed the political reason to also buy Soviet aircraft. The plan changed to 60 single-seat + 7 dual seat fighters of the same type, and the F-18 won the contest. Due to the F-18's high price, the number of fighters to be purchased was decreased by three, to 57+7.

A key goal in the Finnish foreign policy of that era was to take no action that might be interpreted by the Soviets as a security threat; a weapons purchase of this magnitude certainly applied. Buying only NATO-compatible, American fighter jets was not possible for Finland before the U.S.S.R.'s collapse.

The primary reason for the lack of ground attack features in the aircraft is the semantic meaning of the word "attack". For example, Finland has Defence Forces, not an army — even the possibility of Finland ever attacking its neighbors is denied on all levels. This made the policy decision to purchase attack aircraft impossible in the nineties aftermath of finlandization, leading to factory reconfiguration of the F/A-18 to the F-18 variant. A similar rationale also led the Swiss Air Force to purchase 34 F-18s in 1991. A ban on bombers was also mandated by the Paris peace treaty of 1947. This ban was later unilaterally rejected by Finland, but it played a part in the original specification and the competition.

It is widely believed that the removed features can be reinstalled with comparative ease if a regional conflict or a similar need so dictates.

The F-18 Hornet is the second U.S. Navy fighter in the Finnish Air Force, following the 1939 purchase of the Brewster F2A.

Attack capability upgrade

On 7 December 2004 the Finnish Air Force announced that it will reinstall the missing features in order to enable ground attack capability for the Hornets.[8]

The FAF will test the following weapon types:

  • 67 AN/APG-73 Expand 4/5 Upgrades,
  • 3 AN/RT-1851 Radio Transmitters,
  • 5 Multifunctional Information Display Systems (MIDS/LVT),
  • 10 Advanced Tactical Forward Looking Infrared Radar (ATFLIR),
  • 4 AN/ALR-67V(3) Radar Warning Receivers,
  • 5 AN/AYK-14 Mission Computer Upgrades,
  • 2 GBU-31 Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM),
  • 2 AGM-154A Joint Stand Off Weapons (JSOW),
  • 1 AGM-84K Stand-Off Land Attack Missile/Expanded Response (SLAM-ER), and
  • 1 AGM-88E Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missiles (AARGM).

The proposed program support includes recorders, receivers, devices, systems, APX-111 Combined Interrogator Transponders Mode S, components improvement program, spare and repair parts, support and test equipment, publications and technical data, personnel training and equipment, U.S. Government and contractor engineering and other related elements of logistics and program management support. The estimated cost is $300 million.

There has been some advance information that the AARGM won't be approved for Finnish testing, due to US ITAR regulations.

In December 2007 it was announced that the FAF had purchased ten AN/AAQ-28 LITENING AT Block II pods, which were to be integrated with its F-18s.[9]

Organisation

The Air Force is organised into three commands, each of which operates a fighter squadron:

Headquarters (Jyväskylä-Tikkakoski)

Air Support Squadron
  • 1st Flight F27-100 and F27-400M, CASA C-295M, Valmet Vinka, PA-31-350 Chieftain, Valmet L-90TP Redigo
  • 2nd Flight Gates 35A/S Learjet
  • 3rd Flight F27-100 (Sigint)
C4I Materiel Command

Lapland Air Command (Rovaniemi)

Fighter Squadron 11 (Hävittäjälentolaivue 11, HävLLv 11)
  • 1st Flight F-18C/D
  • 2nd Flight F-18C/D
  • 3rd Flight Valmet Vinka, PA-31-350 Chieftain, Valmet L-90TP Redigo

Satakunta Air Command (Tampere-Pirkkala)

Fighter Squadron 21 (HävLLv 21)
  • 1st Flight F-18C/D
  • 2nd Flight F-18C/D
  • 3rd Flight Valmet Vinka, PA-31-350 Chieftain, Valmet L-90TP Redigo

Karelian Air Command (Kuopio-Rissala)

Fighter Squadron 31 (HävLLv 31)
  • 1st Flight F-18C/D
  • 2nd Flight F-18C/D
  • 3rd Flight Valmet Vinka, PA-31-350 Chieftain, Valmet L-90TP Redigo
File:Rv1007 s11 lentosotakoulu.jpg
All the unit colours of the Finnish Air Force feature the same basic design, with only the distinguishing element in the upper right corner changing from unit to unit. Here, the colour of the Air Force Academy. The colour carries the honours of the Order of the Cross of Liberty (ribbon and point) awarded to the Academy for the valour of its former pupils. The distinguishing element of the Academy consists of wings, overlaid with a propeller and a swastika.

Air Force Academy (Kauhava)

Fighter Squadron 41 (HävLLv 41)
  • 1st Flight Hawk Mk 51/51A
  • 2nd Flight Hawk Mk 51/51A
  • 3rd Flight Hawk Mk 51/51A
Training Squadron
  • 1st Flight Valmet Vinka
  • 2nd Flight Hawk Mk 51/51A
  • 3rd Flight Valmet L-90TP Redigo, Valmet Vinka

Air Force Air Material Command (Tampere)

Flight Test Center (Halli)

Aircraft and Weapon Systems School
  • F-18C/D, Hawk Mk 51/51A, Valmet Vinka, Valmet L-90TP Redigo

The three commands are part of the Defence Forces' Readiness formations.

Mobilized organisation

  • 3 Fighter Squadrons F-18C/D
  • 1 Fighter Squadron Hawk
  • 6 Readiness bases
  • 1 Support Squadron
  • 7 Communications Flights

Total of 38,000 personnel

Commanders

Rank Name From To
Captain Carl Seber April 28, 1918 December 13, 1918
Lieutenant Colonel Torsten Aminoff December 14, 1918 January 9, 1919
Colonel Sixtus Hjelmmann January 10, 1919 October 25, 1920
Major Aarne Somersalo October 26, 1920 February 2, 1926
Colonel Väinö Vuori February 2, 1926 September 7, 1932
Lieutenant General Jarl Lundqvist September 8, 1932 June 29, 1945
Lieutenant General Frans Helminen June 30, 1945 November 30, 1952
Lieutenant General Reino Artola December 1, 1952 December 5, 1958
Major General Fjalar Seeve December 6, 1958 September 12, 1964
Lieutenant General Reino Turkki September 13, 1964 December 4, 1968
Lieutenant General Eero Salmela February 7, 1969 April 21, 1975
Lieutenant General Rauno Meriö April 22, 1975 January 31, 1987
Lieutenant General Pertti Jokinen February 1, 1987 January 31, 1991
Lieutenant General Heikki Nikunen February 1, 1991 April 30, 1995
Major General Matti Ahola May 1, 1995 August 31, 1998
Lieutenant General Jouni Pystynen September 1, 1998 December 31, 2004
Lieutenant General Heikki Lyytinen January 1, 2005

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Air force of Finland.

References

  1. ^ "Finnish Air Force today" (Web article). Finnish Air Force. Retrieved 2008-02-23.
  2. ^ Shores 1969, p. 3.
  3. ^ a b Keskinen, Partonen, Stenman 2005.
  4. ^ Shores 1969, p. 4.
  5. ^ Heinonen 1992.
  6. ^ http://www.mil.fi/paaesikunta/tiedotteet/3181.dsp
  7. ^ Finnish military aviation OrBat
  8. ^ http://www.mil.fi/ilmavoimat/tiedotteet/896.dsp
  9. ^ www.defenseindustrydaily.com Finland buys LITENING AT pods. Retriedved 2007-12-23
  • Shores, Christopher. Finnish Air Force, 1918-1968. Reading, Berkshire, UK: Osprey Publications Ltd., 1969. ISBN 0-85045-012-8.

External links

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