Overview

Sharing a 1,340km-long land border with Russia, and with an uneasy history between the countries, Finland has been careful to maintain formal relations with its eastern neighbour. The Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 prompted Finland to abandon its long-held stance of neutrality when it applied to join NATO. Finland's Air Force, the Ilmavoimat, has grown in size and stature in the century since its formation. This comprehensive volume provides an account of the country's military air power, including that of Finland's Air Force, Army and Border Force, together with its history, conscription system and contemporary organisation, as well as an overview of its combat, transport and training aircraft types. It looks in detail at Finland's unique system of dispersed air operations using highway airstrips and civil airports and concludes with an examination of how Finland has been orientating its force structures, training and operations to more easily work alongside NATO countries. With more than 170 colourful and atmospheric photographs, including many previously unpublished, this book provides a concise examination of Finland's air power and the unique geographical conditions in which it operates.

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9781802822663

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Having taught Cold War history, international security and politics at the University of Essex, Kevin Wright is also a regular contributor to several UK aviation magazines. Publications have included books on Cold War aerial intelligence, articles on contemporary topics such as Bundeswehr Special Forces, Finnish Air Force F-18 operations and many others. His lifelong interest in military aviation coupled with aerial photographic work make him well qualified to examine and evaluate Cold War aerial intelligence collection.

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