U.S. Air Force joins Atlantic Trident 25 in Finland with F-35A and F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jets

This marks the first time Atlantic Trident has been held outside of its traditional trilateral partners—the U.S., U.K., and France—signalling an expansion of both participation and operational scope. The exercise includes aircraft such as Finland’s F/A-18 Hornet; U.S. F-35A Lightning II, F-15E Strike Eagle, and KC-135 Stratotanker; French Rafale, E-3F AWACS, A330 MRTT, and A400M; and the U.K.’s Eurofighter Typhoon.

Atlantic Trident 25 is part of a broader effort to re-establish credible deterrence and sharpen warfighting capabilities in contested environments. “Recurring training events like Atlantic Trident allow the U.S. to forward-deploy combat power, train in complex air environments, and sharpen integration with close partners,” a U.S. Air Force spokesperson said.

The exercise provides a platform to test advanced tactics and platforms under realistic conditions, reinforcing the Allies’ ability to respond collectively to threats. Such efforts aim to enhance tactical skills, build trust among partner nations, and demonstrate interoperability in high-end multinational operations.