Fighter jets flying overhead have attracted the attention of residents of the Helsinki metropolitan area in recent days. The flights are part of air combat training for the Air Force Academy cadets that began on Monday.
The flights continue through Thursday. Flights are being operated on two to four Hawk aircraft between 9am and 4pm.
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According to the Air Force, the Hawk jets are taking off from the Air Force Academy at Tikkakoski, just north of Jyväskylä, and landing at Helsinki Airport in Vantaa.
The so-called "Step Out" flights are aimed at teaching students to plan and carry out flights involving an unplanned change of course and landing site.
Hawks to remain in air until late 2030s
The flights are part of cadets' two-phase (HW1 and HW2) Hawk training programme, which includes some 220 hours of flying along with the use of simulators.
The Finnish Air Force has been using British-made Hawk trainer aircraft since 1980. Since 2020, it has been flying 32 rebuilt Hawks of the Mk 51, Mk 51A and Mk 66 models. They are scheduled to remain in use until the late 2030s.
In February, the Defence Forces inked a deal for 64 new US-made Lockheed Martin F-35 fighter jets to replace its ageing fleet of Hornets.