The Finnish Air Force road base exercise Baana 23 was organised in Tervo, North-Savo, Finland on 18-22 September 2023.
Baana is an annual road base exercise of the Finnish Air Force. The lead responsibility of the exercise rotates every year among the Air Force units and now it is the Karelia Air Command’s turn. The Air Force trains regularly operations from other than a home base to be capable of a quick dispersal across the country, when necessary. Operation at road bases is part of the training of all Air Force pilots.
Apart from the Finnish Air Force fleet, aircraft from allied countries were involved in the exercise. For the first time, the Royal Norwegian Air Force F-35s and Royal Air Force Eurofighter Typhoons were participated in the exercise. Two Eurofighters were operated out of Rissala Air Base and Norwegian F-35 operated from Orland (ENOL).
So Norway has now become the first country to demonstrate the ability of the conventional takeoff and landing F-35A Joint Strike Fighter to operate from a highway as part of an exercise Baana 23 in Finland.
And the United Kingdom's participation in Baana 23, albeit with Typhoon fighters, also follows the RAF outlining plans earlier this year to train more to use its F-35Bs from roadways going forward.
Some pictures from the exercise in Rissala Air Base and Tervo road base.
ZK367 taxi by Petu Tuominen
ZK339 to by Petu Tuominen
ZK339 landsun by Petu Tuominen
HN-467 taxiapron by Petu Tuominen
HN-464 taxisun by Petu Tuominen
HN-455 taxiapron by Petu Tuominen
HN-442 tosun by Petu Tuominen
HN-412 tosun by Petu Tuominen
HN-465 taxitostand by Petu Tuominen
ZK367 arr HN-420 rudders by Petu Tuominen
Typhoon RAF touchandgo by Petu Tuominen
RAF EUFI touchandgo by Petu Tuominen
RAF EUFI toandgo by Petu Tuominen
F35 RNoAF x2 dep by Petu Tuominen
F35 RNoAF dep by Petu Tuominen
5501 taxistand by Petu Tuominen
5501 taxidep by Petu Tuominen
5501 stand by Petu Tuominen
5209 F35 RNoAF by Petu Tuominen
5209 and 5501 stand by Petu Tuominen-Petu-
