Finnish Air Force showcases F/A‑18 supremacy in highway drills
The Finnish Air Force recently conducted Baana exercises, showcasing the advantage of the F/A-18 over the Gripen during a highway landing, as reported by the Ukrainian portal Defense Express. These exercises took place near Tikkakoski, where a section of the E75 route was closed to facilitate the operations.
The Finnish Air Force organizes the traditional Baana exercises to utilize public roads as backup runways. This year, the maneuvers happened near Tikkakoski, focusing on a segment of the E75 route that was closed for the event. During the exercises, the military demonstrated how to land an F/A-18 aircraft on a short roadside section.
The F/A-18, being a carrier-based aircraft, is equipped with a special hook that the Gripen lacks. This feature allows the F/A-18 to stop over a short distance using an arrestor hook system. Although Finland does not have aircraft carriers, this hook has been retained on the planes, enabling them to significantly shorten landing distances in emergencies.
A Finnish Air Force press release noted that "during the exercise, troops are trained to operate on a highway strip, to use the Air Force’s concept of dispersed operations & to cooperate with Allies."
The maneuvers also included F-35s, which performed touch-and-go operations. Additionally, the Finnish Air Force incorporated Hawk Mk.51 and Mk.66 training aircraft, along with the Learjet 35, into the exercises.
F/A-18 aircraft
The F/A-18, which has a distinct advantage over the Gripen for landing on short sections, is a supersonic multirole aircraft produced since the late 1970s. It is powered by two General Electric F404 engines, propelling this 56-foot-long aircraft with a wingspan of 40 feet to a speed of 1.8 Mach (approximately 1,367 mph).
This aircraft can be armed with various munitions. Its primary weapon is the M61 Vulcan cannon. Additionally, the F/A-18 is capable of carrying AIM-9 Sidewinder, AIM-120 AMRAAM, IRIS-T, and AGM-88 HARM missiles, as well as Taurus, JDAM, and even nuclear weapons under its deck.
