Atlantic Trident 25: Finland to lead NATO air exercise and host RQ-4D Phoenix aircraft

Atlantic Trident is a trilateral exercise series involving the air forces of the U.S., the U.K., and France, with Finland joining as the host nation in 2025. The participating nations will develop Agile Combat Employment tactics, aircraft cross-servicing, and operational integration between 4th and 5th generation fighter jets.

“Finland is a part of NATO’s network of air bases, so we must be prepared to receive Allied reinforcements,” said Colonel Vesa Mäntylä, Exercise Director and Deputy Chief of Staff, Air Force Command Finland. “We are at the forefront within NATO when it comes to Agile Combat Employment, but close integration with Allies is still relatively new to us.”

All Finnish Air Force units will take part in the exercise, which will involve over 40 aircraft and approximately 1,000 personnel. Participating aircraft include Finnish F/A-18 Hornets, U.S. F-35A Lightning II, F-15E Strike Eagles, and KC-135 Stratotankers; British Typhoons; and French Rafale fighters, an E-3F AWACS, and an A400M transport aircraft.

Ground elements will include NH90 helicopters, Finnish Army air defence units, and airfield damage repair teams from all four participating nations. Draken International aircraft will also provide adversary air services to enhance training realism.

The exercise will be led from Air Force Command Finland in Tikkakoski, with aircraft operating from several Finnish air bases, including Pirkkala, Rissala, Rovaniemi, and Halli. Flight operations will occur on weekdays from 9 am to 5 pm, and on Midsummer Eve (20 June) from 9 am to noon.

In parallel, NATO’s RQ-4D Phoenix remotely piloted aircraft will deploy to the Satakunta Air Wing’s Pirkkala Air Base from June to July 2025. This is the first time the NATO Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Force (NISRF) will operate these aircraft from Finnish territory.

“The deployment and operation of NATO intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities in Finland significantly enhances the joint situational awareness for both the Finnish Defence Forces and the whole Alliance,” Colonel Mäntylä stated. “Hosting the RQ-4D aircraft at the Satakunta Air Wing provides the Finnish Air Force with an opportunity to develop interoperability with remotely piloted ISR aircraft, further strengthening both Finland’s national and NATO’s collective defence.”