Finland and Sweden identify Russian aircraft together for the first time

Finnish and Swedish Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) fighter jets were scrambled to intercept and identify Russian military aircraft in international airspace over the Gulf of Finland on 24 September 2026. This was the first joint operational identification mission for the Finnish and Swedish air forces.

The identification mission was conducted as a part of Finland’s and Sweden’s cooperation in surveillance and protection of territorial integrity. Led by the Finnish Air Force’s Air Operations Centre, the mission involved Finnish F/A-18 Hornet and Swedish JAS 39 Gripen fighter jets. The Finnish and Swedish QRA jets intercepted and identified a Russian detachment consisting of a Tu-134 transport aircraft (NATO reporting name “Crusty”), MiG-31 fighter jets (“Foxhound”) and Su-30 fighter jets (“Flanker-H”) in international airspace over the Gulf of Finland.

— The Finnish and Swedish air forces are responsible for the surveillance and protection of territorial integrity of their nations’ airspace. The deeper cooperation that began this autumn enables joint identification missions and allows QRA fighter jets to operate from the other country’s air bases, says Colonel Vesa Mäntylä, Deputy Chief of Staff, Air Force Command Finland.

— This is what close cooperation looks like in practice. Built over years on trust and strong personal relationships, we can now operate seamlessly together – as air forces, as nations and as Allies, says Major General Jonas Wikman, Commander of the Swedish Air Force.

Finnish and Swedish Quick Reaction Alert fighter jets support each other

Fighters are kept on QRA duty as directed by the Air Operations Centre. The locations of QRA aircraft and response times are tailored to meet existing requirements and in accordance with the prevailing situation. Finnish and Swedish fighter jets are on QRA duty mainly in their national air bases, but they may operate from each other’s bases, if necessary.

The cooperation between the Finnish and Swedish air forces is active and well-established. Cross Border Training sorties have been flown on an almost weekly basis already for several years. In recent years, the partnership has deepened further in the context of the Nordic Air Power cooperation, which includes the Finnish, Swedish, Norwegian and Danish air forces developing their interoperability as part of NATO’s collective defence. In the Baltic Sea region, the Finnish and Swedish air forces cooperate and coordinate their activities also with the NATO Baltic Air Policing detachments.

The close cooperation between Finland and Sweden strengthens security in the North and on NATO’s Eastern flank, also enhancing Finland’s and Sweden’s interoperability in all situations, both in peacetime and during emergencies and disruptions.